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  <channel><title>Dodge News</title><link>http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news/</link><lastBuildDate>Fri, 14 Jan 2011 03:35:24 -0500</lastBuildDate>
	
	
	
<item><title>2011 Dodge Challenger SRT8 392 Debuts with Newest HEMI&#174; V-8 - Inaugural Edition Model Features Exclusive Content</title><link>http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news/articles/?guid=2010_11_15_2011_dodge_challenger_str8_392</link><description><![CDATA[
<ul>
<li>Introduction of legendary 392-cubic inch HEMI&#174; V-8 for the street, an engine with a famous name but is a decidedly high-tech, modern engineering masterpiece  </li>
<li>Potent 392 HEMI V-8 balances brawn with brains, features an active intake manifold, variable-cam timing and Fuel Saver technology (four-cylinder mode) on automatic transmission-equipped models  </li>
<li>Significant horsepower and torque gains are just part of the muscle coupe&#39;s balanced performance story as a redesigned suspension tuning delivers new driving manners  </li>
<li>1,492 Inaugural Edition models will be built with exclusive interior and exterior appointments  </li>
</ul>
<p>For 2011, the Dodge brand&#39;s ultimate modern American muscle coupe receives a big boost in power and performance. And the product story goes beyond the impressive horsepower and torque lurking under the hood.</p>
<p>The new Dodge Challenger SRT8 392 builds on its original mantra of a rear-wheel-drive coupe that promises a balanced approach between form and function, with impressive straight-line acceleration and world-class ride and handling to go along with high-performance braking and the latest technology that delivers improved fuel efficiency.</p>
<p>The result is the newest version of the quickest coupe in the Dodge lineup packed with modern amenities and features performance enthusiasts will love.</p>
<p>&#34;We listened to our devoted, loyal Dodge customers, and this new Dodge Challenger SRT8 392 answers their call for more power off the line,&#34; said Ralph Gilles, President and CEO &#150; Dodge Brand, Chrysler Group LLC. &#34;We consciously tuned the 392 for a lot more torque, as that is what truly creates the thrust that sets you back in the seat and keeps you there!  We can&#39;t wait to see our customers&#39; reactions when they get behind the wheel and put their foot on the throttle &#150; it is so responsive and a blast to drive.&#34;</p>
<p/>
<p>Pumping out 470 horsepower and 470 lb.-ft. of torque, the newest HEMI engine in the SRT product lineup provides an additional 90 lb.-ft. of torque at 2,900 rpm versus the previous 6.1-liter V-8 engine. The added torque allows for inspired standing starts and improved straight-line performance while new, performance-tuned motor mounts improve idle stability and ride control at any speed. An active intake manifold and high-lift camshaft with cam phasing provides maximum low-end torque while optimizing high-end power.</p>
<p>The 2011 Dodge Challenger SRT8 392 is available with either the standard five-speed automatic transmission with Auto Stick or an available Tremec TR-6060 six-speed manual transmission that was first offered on the 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10&#174;. An improved heavy-duty clutch provides easier shift engagement.</p>
<p>Like the original 392 HEMI, the performance on the street and at the track is sure to turn heads with numbers such as 0-60 mph in high 4-second range and quarter-mile elapsed time in the high 12s.</p>
<p>New for 2011 is the Fuel Saver technology in automatic transmission equipped models, which allows the engine to operate economically on four cylinders or use all eight cylinders when needed.</p>
<p>Under the hood, unique valve covers with painted silver ribs and the &#34;392 HEMI&#34; logo give the HEMI powerplant a clean, yet aggressive look.</p>
<p>A redesigned SRT-tuned exhaust system results in a deeper, throatier note that will surely create envious onlookers both during daily commutes and at the race track.</p>
<p>
<strong>CHALLENGER SRT8 392 INAUGURAL EDITION OFFERS EXCLUSIVITY</strong>
<br/>To kick off production of the 2011 Dodge Challenger SRT8 392, 1,492 Inaugural Edition models (1,100 for the U.S. and 392 for Canada) will be produced featuring exclusive exterior and interior content.</p>
<p>On the exterior, two colors and new full-body stripe combinations are available on all Inaugural Edition models: Deep Water Blue with standard Stone White stripes or Bright White Clear Coat with standard Viper Blue stripes. For the first time, the front grille features a body-color grille surround.</p>
<p>Unique &#34;392 HEMI&#34; badges flank both fenders touting the historically significant V-8 engine that remains true to its high-performance roots and powers the highest rated Challenger in terms of horsepower and torque ratings. From the rear, the Mopar&#174; quad exhaust tips deliver the performance exhaust note while adding the styling cue of a serious muscle car.</p>
<p>The Challenger SRT8 392 Inaugural Edition rides on standard 20-inch SRT exclusive wheels that feature a polished face and satin black painted pockets.</p>
<p>The race-inspired interior of the Challenger SRT8 392 Inaugural Edition begins with standard Smooth Pearl White leather-trimmed seats and dual blue stripes accented by unique blue stitching. Each of the front seats features an embroidered &#34;392&#34; just below the headrest.</p>
<p>The center instrument panel, center stack and console bezels feature a silver metal brush finish for a clean yet high-performance look and feel. The door trim panels also feature silver metal brush grab handles inside Pearl White door bolsters with unique blue accents.</p>
<p>An exclusive, serialized &#34;Inaugural Edition 392 HEMI&#34; dash plaque, showing the sequential build number from 1 to 1,492 rounds out the exclusive interior content.</p>
<p>
<strong>ULTIMATE MODERN AMERICAN MUSCLE COUPE</strong>
<br/>The exterior styling of the 2011 Dodge Challenger SRT8 392 remains unmistakably Dodge, with proportions that evoke a bold, instantly recognizable vehicle that has a wide, stable stance on the road.</p>
<p>A larger front splitter and integrated front fender spats improve overall high-speed aerodynamics and overall balance. Top speed has been increased to more than 180 mph with the manual transmission (173 mph in the automatic). A newly modified front fascia chin spoiler improves aerodynamics and is accent painted for a more aggressive look. The rear deck-lid spoiler also is completed in matching body color.</p>
<p>
<strong>NEW INTERIOR STYLING WILL DELIGHT</strong>
<br/>The precise performance handling of the Challenger SRT8 392 comes to life through a new, right-sized, three-spoke steering wheel that features a carbon fiber accented leather wrap and silver metallic painted spokes at the 3-, 6- and 9 o&#39;clock positions.</p>
<p>The trapezoidal instrument panel features a four-bomb gauge cluster with chromed accent rings and unique, new for 2011 SRT graphics. Inside the cluster, the SRT-exclusive Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC) with performance pages provides the driver with trip information, multimedia information from the Media Center radio, along with instant feedback on 0-60 mph time, 60-0 mph braking, G-forces, one-eighth mile and quarter-mile times.</p>
<p>Power lumbar-equipped front seats are standard on all Challenger SRT8 392 models. It&#39;s also much easier to get in and out of the rear seat. The driver&#39;s seat now features seatback tilt with memory and an easy to reach release handle, while the front-passenger seat adds tilt and slide with memory, which makes it even easier to use.</p>
<p>
<strong>MAXIMUM PERFORMANCE HANDLING FOR ROAD AND TRACK</strong>
<br/>New, highly damped shocks offer a firm ride that maintains the feel for everyday commuting while being fully capable for the more challenging situations. SRT engineers recalibrated the suspension geometry to improve Challenger&#39;s balance, cornering ability and steering responsiveness. Quicker steering ratios and new negative camber settings all around dramatically improve Challenger&#39;s appetite for high-speed cornering.</p>
<p>The performance SRT-tuned, fully-hydraulic steering system also has been improved with a new, heavy-duty pump and revised gearing to give drivers more direct feel and on-center response.</p>
<p>The result: the 2011 Challenger SRT8 392 is capable of .93g on the skid pad &#150; the most of any production Challenger and on par with some of the world&#39;s best-handling performance coupes.</p>
<p>
<strong>392&#39;S STORIED HISTORY</strong>
<br/>The original 392 HEMI engine was introduced in the new 1957 model year Chrysler and Imperial products. It replaced the 354 cubic-inch version of the original HEMI launched in 1951.Compared with the 354 engine, the 392 was completely revised and improved, with larger valves and ports, a beefier block and crankshaft and improved bearings. In short, the 392 HEMI, often affectionately referred to simply as the &#34;92,&#34; was perfect for drag racing.</p>
<p>More than a few racers at that time immediately enhanced the performance of the newest HEMI by bolting on six or eight carburetors, installing new camshafts, etc., and went racing.</p>
<p>Racing legend Don &#34;Big Daddy&#34; Garlits ran a 392 in his infamous Swamp Rat I dragster at record speeds of faster than 180 mph on nitro with no supercharger. Garlits also used a 392 HEMI to officially break the 200-mph barrier when his Swamp Rat went 201.34 mph at Atco, N.J., in 1964.</p>
<p>But the 392&#39;s success went beyond the drag strip. It also set records at the Bonneville Salt Flats and in boat racing. Drag racing boats were no different than their land-based counterparts in the use of the 392. Famous HEMI engine builder Keith Black was better known on the water than on the land, until he teamed up with Tommy Greer and hired Don &#34;The Snake&#34; Prudhomme to dominate Top Fuel in California in the early 1960s using a 392 HEMI.</p>
<p>After 1958, the 392 HEMI was gone as a production engine, but it still remains a legend. Collectors are now preserving many historic 392-powered race cars and hot rods and proudly displaying them on show car circuits.</p>
<p>In 2007, Mopar &#150; Chrysler Group LLC&#39;s service, parts and customer-care brand &#150; helped celebrate the 50th anniversary of the original 392 by launching a modern, crate engine version of the 392 HEMI.</p>]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">2010_11_15_2011_dodge_challenger_str8_392</guid><pubDate>November 15, 2010</pubDate><category>dodge_news dodge internal challenger</category><source url="http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news">Chrysler Media Services LLC</source><dc:subject name="Dodge News" category="System Tag">dodge_news</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Dodge" category="System Tag">dodge</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Recent News From" category="System Tag">internal</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Challenger" category="Dodge Vehicles">challenger</dc:subject></item>
<item><title>An All-new Dynamic for the 2011 Dodge Avenger: A Mid-size Sedan Designed, Engineered for Spirited Performance</title><link>http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news/articles/?guid=2010_11_15_2011_dodge_avenger</link><description><![CDATA[
<ul>
<li>All-new interior gives consumers more comfort, world-class craftsmanship and high-tech features to make their lives easier  </li>
<li>All-new 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine mated to a six-speed automatic transmission provides best-in-class V-6 horsepower and exceptional fuel economy  </li>
<li>Proven 2.4-liter World Gas Engine is retuned and mated to an available six-speed automatic transmission  </li>
<li>Major suspension overhaul and improved acoustics result in an exhilarating driving experience with one of the quietest cabins in the segment  </li>
<li>Updated exterior design showcases an athletic yet refined exterior with the new Dodge brand &#34;split crosshair&#34; grille  </li>
</ul>
<p>Dodge introduces the new 2011 Dodge Avenger, the perfect sedan for the customer who wants an enthusiastic driving performance and exceptional fuel economy. The 2011 Dodge Avenger provides more standard content than others in the segment, high-tech features that keep them connected and the safety features consumers expect, all at an excellent value.</p>
<p>The Dodge Avenger receives a major overhaul for 2011 with an all-new world-class interior, a redesigned, more sculpted exterior and performance attributes that put the &#34;fun&#34; in functional. A new powertrain lineup and completely redesigned and retuned suspension results in exceptional driving dynamics. When combined with the exterior and interior design upgrades, the 2011 Dodge Avenger is a vehicle packed with value and a style all its own.</p>
<p>&#34;From the ground up, the Dodge brand has reenergized and redesigned its 2011 model-year lineup to deliver vehicles with American design and the performance customers are proud to drive,&#34; said Ralph Gilles, President and CEO &#150; Dodge Brand, Chrysler Group LLC. &#34;Consumers will experience this renaissance when they drive the new 2011 Dodge Avenger. The Avenger offers tons of standard features packaged to fit almost any lifestyle, a new world-class interior with a new level of comfort and craftsmanship and a driving experience they&#39;ll look forward to every day.&#34;</p>
<p>The 2011 Dodge Avenger delivers agile, confident, handling performance in all driving situations, whether it&#39;s a spirited adventure on twisty roads or an emergency maneuver. Engineers retuned or redesigned virtually every part of the suspension for 2011, including 26 of 30 suspension bushings. The track is an inch wider, tire width has been increased from 215 to 225 mm and the Avenger has been lowered 12 mm in the front and 6 mm in the rear for a lower, more aggressive stance. When they get behind the wheel of the Avenger, customers will feel more confident, experience less body roll, reduced vehicle motion, improved isolation, better steering precision and increased grip thanks to new premium tires. Dodge also updated the Avenger&#39;s powertrain options for 2011 to make it even more responsive and fun to drive. The vehicle comes with the standard 2.4-liter World Gas Engine, which has been recalibrated and is now available mated to a new six-speed transmission for an exceptionally fun and fuel-efficient driving experience. The new Avenger powered by the 2.4-liter engine produces 173 horsepower and 166 lb.-ft. of torque. Buyers also can opt for the new 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine mated to a six-speed automatic transmission that gives them the best of both worlds &#150; best-in-class V-6 horsepower and exceptional fuel economy. The new 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine produces a best-in-class 283 horsepower and 260 lb.-ft. of torque.</p>
<p>Avenger&#39;s cabin is now one of the quietest in the segment, thanks to the engineers&#39; efforts to isolate all outside noise where it belongs &#150; outside the vehicle. Noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) were reduced, and 45 new sound-deadening treatments were added, including an acoustic glass windshield, laminated side glass, new sound absorption materials throughout the vehicle and a new three-point engine mount system for the 2.4-liter World Gas Engine.</p>
<p>New exterior styling features clean, smooth aggressive lines. The new, more sculpted front fascia sports the signature Dodge brand &#34;split crosshair&#34; grille, while an aggressive lower fascia with the honeycomb texture grille features new projector beam fog lamps. The rear fascia is also more sculpted, and new &#34;ring of fire&#34; LED taillamps provide an easily identifiable on-road presence.</p>
<p>With an all-new interior for 2011, Avenger customers will step into world-class levels of craftsmanship, content and comfort. The all-new instrument panel, bezels, gauge faces and the new multifunction three-spoke Dodge steering wheel transform the driver&#39;s seat into a cockpit-like experience. Armrests and the instrument panel are soft to the touch, and new premium interior finishes are pleasing to the eye. New heating and cooling outlets are redesigned to fit seamlessly into the new instrument panel. The driver and passengers will sink in to new upgraded seats with more cushion material and be able to pick from new leather and cloth seating options. The Dodge Avenger&#39;s new interior color schemes and accent stitching complete the makeover.</p>
<p>Avenger&#39;s high-tech features are designed to keep drivers connected with their hands on the wheel, eyes on the road. New ambient interior lighting and the new Dodge steering wheel with integrated controls let the driver operate the radio, cruise control, handsfree phone and other vehicle functions without taking their hands off the wheel. Drivers also can stay connected via an available media center with voice command that is easy to use and offers SIRIUS Satellite Radio, a 30-gigabyte hard drive, iPod&#174; connectivity, streaming music capability and a navigation system with SIRIUS Travel Link for real-time information.</p>
<p>Safety and security features abound in the 2011 Dodge Avenger, giving owners peace of mind. Standard features include advanced multi-stage front passenger air bags, active head restraints, electronic stability control (ESC), supplemental side-curtain air bags, front seat side air bags, four-wheel anti-lock brakes (ABS), electronic traction control, Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren (LATCH) child seat anchor system and available Uconnect&#174; Voice Command.</p>
<p>The 2011 Dodge Avenger is available in five different configurations in the United States, packaged to fit almost any lifestyle. The Avenger Express, Avenger Mainstreet, Avenger Heat, Avenger Lux and Avenger R/T models are packed with cool standard features and unexpected versatility at a surprising value.</p>
<p>The standard mid-size sedan segment is the largest vehicle segment in the United States, with more than 1.6 million vehicles sold in 2009. The 2011 Dodge Avenger is uniquely positioned as an alternative for consumers looking for a sedan with more style, personality and performance as well as with value for their dollar.</p>
<p>The 2011 Dodge Avenger is available in eight exterior colors: Blackberry Pearl Coat, Bright Silver Metallic, Brilliant Black Crystal Pearl Coat, Redline 2 Pearl Coat, Stone White Pearl Coat, Mango Tango Pearl Coat, Bright White Pearl Coat or Black.</p>
<p>The new 2011 Dodge Avenger Express, Mainstreet, Heat and Lux models will arrive in U.S. dealerships in the fourth quarter 2010. The Dodge Avenger R/T arrives in U.S. dealer showrooms in Spring 2011.</p>
<p>The Dodge Avenger is built at the Sterling Heights, [Mich.] Assembly Plant.</p>]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">2010_11_15_2011_dodge_avenger</guid><pubDate>November 15, 2010</pubDate><category>dodge_news dodge internal avenger</category><source url="http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news">Chrysler Media Services LLC</source><dc:subject name="Dodge News" category="System Tag">dodge_news</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Dodge" category="System Tag">dodge</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Recent News From" category="System Tag">internal</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Avenger" category="Dodge Vehicles">avenger</dc:subject></item>
<item><title>All-new 2011 Dodge Charger: World-class Performance, Precision And Technology With An Iconic Soul</title><link>http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news/articles/?guid=2010_11_15_2011_dodge_charger</link><description><![CDATA[
<ul>
<li>With its iconic four-door fastback coupe design, efficient power, technology and execution of the world&#39;s best E-segment sedans, the all-new 2011 Dodge Charger targets customers who are young at heart and passionate about performance driving  </li>
<li>Efficient dynamics: all-new 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine provides Dodge Charger SE with 63 percent more standard horsepower, 36 percent more standard torque and uncompromised fuel economy compared with its predecessor  </li>
<li>Complete performance: world-class structural stiffness contributes to world-class ride and handling, new Dodge-tuned second-generation E-segment chassis architecture delivers maximum grip for a 0.90 g on the skid pad, and legendary 5.7-liter HEMI&#174; V-8 engine with FuelSaver Technology delivers efficiency, 370 best-in-class power, 0-60 mph performance in under 6 seconds and 25 highway mpg  </li>
<li>Developed with Design for Six Sigma (DFSS) and built with world-class craftsmanship, the 2011 Dodge Charger delivers exceptional interior quietness, state-of-the-art technologies and premium materials once limited to elite European sport sedans  </li>
</ul>
<p>With its iconic character, contemporary fastback four-door coupe proportions, world-class performance, craftsmanship and refinement, and state-of-the-art connectivity features, the all-new 2011 Charger is the Dodge brand&#39;s flagship, and it proudly delivers premium, world-class E-segment sedan precision at an incredible value.</p>
<p>&#34;Dodge is changing the rules of the game, and the all-new 2011 Charger embodies the brand&#39;s promise to deliver American performance machines that deliver world-class efficiency, technology, authentic materials and standout styling for our customers, who like us, are young at heart and make driving a priority,&#34; said Ralph Gilles, President and CEO &#151; Dodge Brand, Chrysler Group LLC. &#34;With its all-new fastback four-door coupe proportions, iconic styling to excite enthusiastic Dodge fans, benchmark performance and precision handling, the latest in-car technology and high-quality execution and materials, the Charger is loaded with attitude and innovation, and delivers an extreme dose of value.&#34;</p>
<p>
<strong>FOUR-DOOR FASTBACK COUPE STYLING WITH ICONIC DODGE PERFORMANCE CUES</strong>
<br/>The efficient and aerodynamic exterior of the 2011 Dodge Charger is heavily inspired by the classic second-generation Charger from the late 1960s, featuring a design that is sure to strike the emotional chords of Dodge performance enthusiasts of all generations.</p>
<p>With its sinister &#34;ready to attack the road&#34; face, the all-new Dodge Charger puts the world&#39;s best E-segment sedan competitors between its new &#34;split crosshair&#34; signature grille. This highly detailed grille design is more intricate with a black satin inset set into the chromed surrounds. A split hexagon designed grate sets behind the chromed grille and carries the new &#34;Dodge&#34; nameplate.</p>
<p>With direct design influence from the 1968 to 1970 Dodge Charger coupes, the aluminum hood features dual &#34;scallops&#34; that bring a sculptured, performance look to the front end. The design heritage continues with large bodyside scallops that deliver a striking A-line across the doors and hark back to Dodge Charger&#39;s high-performance heritage. Running front-to-rear is the signature horizontal &#34;coke bottle&#34; door and body-side shape that provide front and rear fenders with muscular proportions for a menacing silhouette. The flared bodysides of the Dodge four-door fastback coupe are dramatically pronounced, providing 6 inches of offset between the roof rails and shoulder lines, and giving the all-new Dodge Charger its &#34;planted&#34; performance stance, reminiscent of the second-generation coupes. With its performance-sculpted surfaces surrounding the wheels, Dodge Charger&#39;s tire-to-body fitment has been tightened by a full 8 mm versus the previous model to deliver a stronger, more athletic appearance and improve aerodynamics. A deck-lid spoiler improves aerodynamics and Dodge attitude. It is available on the Charger SE and standard on Charger R/T.</p>
<p>Defining the fastback&#39;s wide stance is an all-new signature taillamp design that incorporates 164 illuminating LEDs to form its signature &#34;racetrack&#34; graphic and gives the new Charger its unmistakable character from blocks away.</p>
<p>
<strong>PERFORMANCE INFUSED COCKPIT WITH WORLD-CLASS CRAFTSMANSHIP AND MATERIALS</strong>
<br/>The 2011 Dodge Charger&#39;s interior cockpit is meant to be an enthusiast office. The all-new design features premium materials throughout.</p>
<p>Transmitting the chassis&#39; world-class feel of the road, the all-new Charger features a new thick-rimmed three-spoke Dodge steering wheel for enhanced performance feel and grip.</p>
<p>Crafted in world-class materials, Charger&#39;s passengers are surrounded with comfort, craftsmanship and style, thanks to premium soft-touch materials and four available distinct interior color combinations. The all-new 2011 Dodge Charger&#39;s state-of-the-art Uconnect&#174; Touch integrates world-class infotainment and convenience technologies to keep passengers connected, comfortable and secure.</p>
<p>From segment-leading Garmin&#174; navigation, to dual-zone climate controls and the ability to check fuel prices with the integration of available SIRIUS Travel Link, Uconnect Touch delivers an excellent experience for Charger&#39;s driver and passengers.</p>
<p>
<strong>DESIGNED FOR ENTHUSIASTS WHO WANT WORLD-CLASS PERFORMANCE WITH THE SEGMENT&#39;S NEW ATTITUDE OF EFFICIENCY</strong>
<br/>The all-new 2011 Dodge Charger is designed and targeted to appeal to enthusiasts who want standout styling with power, performance, comfort and the space and safety technologies for their young families or lifestyle needs. Buyers of the 2011 Dodge Charger are highly motivated and extroverted individuals who are young at heart. The all-new Charger meets their demands for a vehicle that can deliver fun-to-drive handling, performance, iconic fastback coupe styling and world-class execution with the efficiency and technology to do more.</p>
<p>
<strong>ENERGIZED LINEUP WITH LIFESTYLE PACKAGES EQUIPPED WITH PERFORMANCE, TECHNOLOGY AND EXCITEMENT</strong>
<br/>The all-new 2011 Dodge Charger is available in the United States in three models: Dodge Charger SE, Dodge Charger R/T and Dodge Charger R/T AWD.</p>
<p>With more standard equipment than its direct standard full-size segment competitors, the 2011 Dodge Charger SE model is well-equipped for the individual who is looking for standout styling, efficient performance, precision handling, comfort and refinement at an extraordinary value.</p>
<p>Delivering 370 best-in-class horsepower with its legendary 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 engine with four-cylinder mode Fuel Saver Technology, performance-tuned suspension with larger performance-disc brakes and standard Uconnect Touch 8.4, the all-new 2011 Dodge Charger R/T is designed for the customer who demands V-8 power, rail-like handling and state-of-the-art technology. And for maximum all-season traction with world-class ride and technology, the all-new 2011 Dodge Charger R/T AWD is a true year-round performance car.</p>
<p>In addition, Dodge offers distinct lifestyle packages (Rallye, Rallye Plus, R/T Plus, R/T Road &#38; Track and R/T Max) designed to give Charger customers high-value content for their specific needs.</p>
<p>
<strong>WORLD-CLASS POWERTRAINS OFFERING BEST-IN-CLASS AVAILABLE POWER</strong>
<br/>The all-new 2011 Dodge Charger features two uncompromised, high-performance engines that deliver world-class levels of power, refinement, technology and fuel efficiency.</p>
<p>Engineered to perform, the all-new 2011 Dodge Charger SE features one all-new world-class V-6 engine instead of the previous two. The new 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine delivers 292 horsepower (up 63 percent) and 260 lb.-ft. of torque (up 36 percent) compared with the previous entry-level 2.7-liter V-6 engine.</p>
<p>And when compared to the previous high-output 3.5-liter V-6 engine, the new Pentastar V-6 engine produces 42 more horsepower (up 16 percent), and 10 lb.-ft. more torque.</p>
<p>For maximum thrills and best-in-class power, the Charger R/T&#39;s legendary 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 engine with Fuel Saver Technology delivers 370 horsepower, an unforgettable throaty exhaust note 0-60 mph performance in less than 6 seconds.</p>
<p>The all-new 2011 Dodge Charger R/T AWD model features a segment-exclusive active transfer case and front-axle disconnect system to improve fuel economy by up to 5 percent. No other major automotive manufacturer offers the combination of these two independent technologies. Dodge Charger&#39;s innovative AWD system seamlessly transitions between rear-wheel drive and AWD with no driver intervention. When all-wheel drive is not required, the system automatically disconnects the front axle to maximize fuel economy while still providing the outstanding fun-to-drive performance and handling inherent in rear-wheel-drive vehicles.</p>
<p>
<strong>NEW SECOND-GENERATION E-SEGMENT SUSPENSION DELIVERS WORLD-CLASS RIDE AND HANDLING</strong>
<br/>As the Dodge brand&#39;s performance flagship, the chassis of the all-new 2011 Dodge Charger is designed, engineered and fine-tuned to deliver a level of quality, capability and refinement that rivals the very best European, Asian and North American E-segment sedans.</p>
<p>Performance handling requires maximum grip, and the all-new Dodge Charger now holds a 0.90 g. Aiding in the fastback four-door coupe&#39;s improved road-holding capabilities is a more aggressive front- and rear-camber geometry. Set at -1.0 degrees in the front and -1.75 degrees in the rear, Dodge Charger is set up for high-speed cornering with its tires leaning inboard at the top relative to the body.</p>
<p>All-new premium hydrobushings combined with new monotube shock absorbers, spring rates and redesigned front and rear multi-link suspension geometries provide the 2011 Dodge Charger with exceptional performance handling dynamics, smooth braking characteristics and a comfortable, smooth ride.</p>
<p>No matter what the road conditions, the all-new 2011 Dodge Charger R/T AWD looks even newer with a 0.5-inch (13 mm) tighter tire-to-fender fitment, a 0.15-inch (4 mm) lowered overall ride height and larger 19-inch wheels with P235/55R19 all-season performance tires. Beyond its lower center of gravity, the Dodge Charger R/T AWD features improved handling with new upper- and lower-control arms and shock-absorber bushings. In addition new half shafts feature high-precision bearing units that are sealed for added quality and durability.</p>
<p>Transmitting the 2011 Dodge Charger&#39;s maximum grip and responsiveness to the driver is an all-new electro-hydraulic power steering (EHPS) system that features 25 percent quicker steering, precision road feel and improved on-center tracking while reducing steering noise and fuel consumption.</p>
<p>
<strong>WORLD-CLASS STRUCTURAL STIFFNESS PROVIDES A QUIET, CONFIDENT AND SECURE RIDE</strong>
<br/>Engineered and executed to deliver world-class sport sedan characteristics, the all-new 2011 Dodge Charger features a solid, stable and true &#34;command-of-the-road&#34; feeling, while delivering world-class structural stiffness, exceptional interior quietness, 15 percent improved visibility and is capable of achieving high crashworthiness ratings.</p>
<p>The all-new 2011 Dodge Charger combines advanced steels, nylon composites and Chrysler Group&#39;s new second-generation rear-wheel-drive E-segment architecture for maximum structural stiffness. This world-class torsional strength contributes to the seventh-generation Dodge Charger&#39;s tighter and stiffer characteristics and provides the driver with an added sense of confidence and control during higher speed maneuvers.</p>
<p>Maximizing its rigid body structural design, Dodge Charger engineers were able to tune the cabin for sound quality (rather than sound level) by isolating powertrain, road and wind noise. In addition, Charger&#39;s unibody packages material and structural design improvements, including dual-pane acoustic windshield and front-door side glass, body-cavity silencing foam, under-flush rolled-framed door with triple seals and new acoustic wheel-well liners to absorb road noise and quiet the cabin. Combined, these design improvements place the all-new Dodge Charger&#39;s interior sound quality among the best in the E-segment.</p>
<p>
<strong>STATE-OF-THE-ART CONNECTIVITY AND INFOTAINMENT</strong>
<br/>The all-new 2011 Dodge Charger&#39;s Uconnect Touch integrates world-class infotainment and convenience technologies to keep passengers connected, comfortable and secure.</p>
<p>The all-new Uconnect Touch illustrates tangible results from the company&#39;s extensive research and development. During the development of the all-new Uconnect Touch, Chrysler Group engineers visited, observed and recorded more than 4,100 owners of the best E-segment vehicles from Europe, Asia and North America to see how they interacted with their in-vehicle audio and navigation systems, as well as find out what they really want and need from a multimedia and infotainment system. The result: four high-quality next-generation infotainment models that are easy to use and simplify how passengers interact with different radio, media, climate control and navigation technologies.</p>
<p>From touchscreen navigation to dual-zone climate controls, to the ability to check fuel prices, Uconnect Touch makes life in the all-new 2011 Dodge Charger an excellent experience for the driver and passengers. Dodge Charger offers four Uconnect Touch (4.3, 4.3S, 8.4 and 8.4N) models, all featuring easy-to-use controls to provide class-leading technology. With its touch-screen display and user-friendly touch-key categories, information on the Uconnect Touch is clearly displayed and connecting and controlling personal mobile devices is simple.</p>
<p>The premium Uconnect Touch 8.4N model enables more customer-convenient amenities than ever before, including the integration of segment-leading Garmin&#174; navigation and SIRIUS Travel Link with real-time fuel prices, movie listings, sports updates and weather.</p>
<p>Turning the all-new 2011 Dodge Charger into a mobile &#34;hot spot,&#34; available Uconnect Web provides instant access to websites, e-mail, personalized music, online gaming, photo albums and more. The wireless system provides high-speed data transfer and flexibility, combining Wi-Fi and 3G cellular connectivity for a new level of wireless technology.</p>
<p>
<strong>MORE THAN 65 SAFETY AND SECURITY FEATURES PROVIDE ENHANCED DRIVER CONFIDENCE</strong>
<br/>The all-new 2011 Dodge Charger features more than 65 safety and security features, including standard Keyless Enter-N-Go and electronic stability control (ESC) with segment-exclusive Ready Alert Braking and Rain Brake Support safety features to improve overall vehicle handling and performance both on and off the track.</p>
<p>Safety and security features available for the first time on the Dodge Charger include adaptive-cruise control (ACC) with Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Blind-spot Monitoring (BSM) with Rear Cross Path (RCP) detection and ParkView&#174; rear backup camera with grid lines, all designed to give the driver added confidence while behind the wheel.</p>
<p>In addition, standard front-row reactive head restraints, standard full-length side-curtain air bags, driver&#39;s knee bag and standard front seat-mounted side-thorax air bags offer enhanced occupant protection to passengers in the event of a collision.</p>
<p>
<strong>WORLD-CLASS PERFORMANCE, EXECUTION AND REFINEMENT</strong>
<br/>As the Dodge brand&#39;s all-new flagship four-door coupe, the 2011 Charger exemplifies how Chrysler Group is applying strict targets for world-class performance, quality, technology and refinement.</p>
<p>As Chrysler Group defines it, performance quality measures how well a vehicle performs compared with its competition. Dodge Charger engineers evaluated more than 320 physical characteristics of best-in-class sport sedans from Europe, Asia and North America, and then established criteria for the four-door fastback to compete as a world-class performance sedan. Criteria such as acceleration, braking, handling, seat comfort, quietness, storage space and fuel economy were benchmarked in the team&#39;s research.</p>
<p>The Dodge Charger&#39;s world-class structural stiffness provides the foundation for its world-class handling and dynamic driving performance. With respect to ride quality, precision steering and performance handling, the Charger was designed and validated to meet or exceed the performance standards of premium brands such as BMW and Lexus.</p>
<p>In addition, the Charger team used Design for Six Sigma (DFSS) principles and more than 4,100 customer &#34;wants,&#34; which were integrated in the vehicle design and performance quality targets. Consumer products designed using DFSS generally are expected to better match customer desires and offer higher quality.</p>
<p>Significantly refined compared with its predecessor, the 2011 Dodge Charger was designed to match the noise, vibrations and harshness (NVH) performance of the benchmark vehicle in its class, the BMW 5-series &#150; a vehicle that costs thousands of dollars more. Evaluations in Chrysler Group&#39;s state-of-the-art aerodynamic and acoustic test facilities showed that Dodge engineers not only met their goal, but achieved quieter levels than other E-segment competitors.</p>
<p>To validate the design, Dodge engineers tested the Charger for more than 7 million miles during its reliability and durability evaluation in the company&#39;s scientific labs, at the proving grounds and on public roads in various climates.</p>
<p>Engineers also studied and set performance quality targets for more obscure vehicle attributes such as tire wear, door sound, windshield-wiper performance, trunk lighting and outward visibility &#151; among hundreds of other things.</p>
<p>
<strong>WORLD CLASS MANUFACTURING (WCM) TRANSFORMS BRAMPTON TO LAUNCH THE ALL-NEW CHARGER</strong>
<br/>For the Brampton plant, the launch of the all-new 2011 Dodge Charger will be world class.</p>
<p>In preparation for the launch of the Dodge Charger, employees at Chrysler Group LLC&#39;s Brampton Assembly Plant, located outside of Toronto, began transforming the facility as part of World Class Manufacturing (WCM), an extensive and thorough process to restore all facilities to their original and maximum functionality.</p>
<p>While Chrysler Group implemented manufacturing programs in the past, what makes WCM different is that it fully engages people in eliminating waste and empowers them to take ownership of the process.</p>
<p>To further improve the all-new Dodge Charger&#39;s quality, a new Metrology Center was installed at Brampton. Used throughout the Fiat system, the $20 million, 35,000 square-foot facility reflects the company&#39;s heightened dedication to quality. Brampton joins Jefferson North Assembly Plant as one of the first Chrysler Group facilities and one of only a few Canadian automotive manufacturing facilities to utilize such technology.</p>
<p>The Metrology Center employs more than 30 people, who are responsible for measurement and validation of the body geometry. The tools within the Metrology Center are used to verify the capability of the vehicle&#39;s entire sheet metal structure to the smallest of tolerances, as small as a human hair. The aim is to identify possible deviations between the product and the process.</p>]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">2010_11_15_2011_dodge_charger</guid><pubDate>November 15, 2010</pubDate><category>dodge_news dodge internal charger</category><source url="http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news">Chrysler Media Services LLC</source><dc:subject name="Dodge News" category="System Tag">dodge_news</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Dodge" category="System Tag">dodge</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Recent News From" category="System Tag">internal</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Charger" category="Dodge Vehicles">charger</dc:subject></item>
<item><title>2011 Dodge Durango - All-New Three Row SUV With A Soul</title><link>http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news/articles/?guid=2010_11_15_2011_dodge_durango_v2</link><description><![CDATA[
<ul>
<li>Delivers crossover versatility, SUV capability and performance in a different league than other vehicles in its segment  </li>
<li>Designed for the crew and engineered for the driver  </li>
<li>Leads the re-launch of the Dodge brand with four models: Express, Crew, R/T and Citadel  </li>
<li>No traditional &#34;base model&#34; &#151; feature-filled lifestyle models targeted at different user wants and needs  </li>
</ul>
<p>Buckle in and hold tight. Dodge is jumping back into the sport utility (SUV) segment with the 2011 Dodge Durango, a three-row vehicle spacious enough to carry the entire crew and performance-tuned to thrill anyone who truly loves to drive. Durango will lead the Dodge brand&#39;s new product onslaught for 2011.</p>
<p>From its sleek exterior design to its modern, spacious interior, and intelligent, fuel-efficient and powerful powertrain options, the 2011 Dodge Durango is all-new from the inside out. And the changes are more than skin deep. The Durango&#39;s unibody structure is more than 25 percent stiffer than its predecessor. The end result is a vehicle with crossover versatility, SUV capability and performance in a different league than its competitive class.</p>
<p>&#34;Dodge Durango appeals to customers who need the versatility of a crossover and capability of an SUV, but want the refinement and characteristics of a premium performance vehicle,&#34; said Ralph Gilles, President and CEO, Dodge Brand and Senior Vice President, Design &#151; Chrysler Group LLC. &#34;Durango owners love to drive and relish the feelings it evokes, but also want a vehicle that stands out from the crowd and expresses their individuality.&#34;</p>
<p>Durango customers live busy lives. They need a vehicle that is spacious and flexible enough to haul three rows of passengers and their gear, but powerful and agile enough to keep it fun. Durango customers are looking for the perfect balance of functional versatility and luxury at an outstanding value. Durango is the only vehicle in the segment that will meet their needs.</p>
<p>
<strong>RE-ENGINEERED FROM THE ASPHALT UP</strong>
<br/>The all-new 2011 Durango delivers excitement and refinement with world-class suspension and performance. It&#39;s a driver&#39;s SUV that delivers impressive on-road performance and capability with the flexibility of a three-row SUV.Benchmarked against premium performance SUV&#39;s in the market, Durango delivers modernized refinement with electronics, suspension and structural characteristics that are usually found at much higher price points.</p>
<p>The unibody structure is built with a selection of high-strength and ultra-high-strength steels that improve driving dynamics by integrating the suspension with the body &#151; reducing flex when compared with the previous body-on-frame design. In fact, 52 percent of the Durango&#39;s structure is made from these advanced steels. More than 5,500 welds and more than 4,100 mm of arc welding contribute to torsional stiffness levels greater than the Mercedes-Benz GL.</p>
<p>The all-new short/long arm front suspension and isolated multi-link rear suspension features isolated front and rear cradles for improved on-road handling and comfort.</p>
<p>The all-new Durango delivers on the pavement with aggressive shock and spring rates and large sway bars to handle body roll in hard turning maneuvers. Available electro-hydraulic performance steering, along with standard electronic stability control also contribute to maintain tire grip and vehicle stability.</p>
<p>A robust structure, impressive braking and unexpected stability contribute to the Durango&#39;s best-in-class trailer tow capability. On models equipped with the Pentastar V-6 engine, the Durango can tow up to 6,200 pounds&#151;more than the V-6 and small V-8 that were available in the previous Durango. When coupled with the 5.7-liter HEMI&#174; V-8 engine, the all-new Dodge Durango offers trailer-tow capability of up to 7,400 pounds&#151;more weight than a 24-foot boat and trailer.</p>
<p>A drag coefficient of approximately 0.35 enables an aerodynamic improvement of more than 14 percent compared with its predecessor, contributing to quiet interior and improved fuel efficiency.</p>
<p>Inside, the new Durango boasts 28 different seating configurations, with as much as 85 cubic feet of cargo and storage areas, leaving plenty of legroom for passengers and gear. With second- and third-row seats folded flat, the Durango can fit a 6-foot couch with room for a coffee table, or for do-it-yourselfers, enough 10-foot 2x4s to build a tree house. Creating versatile and usable cargo space is important to the segment.</p>
<p>Visibility over the third row was critical. Engineering and design worked together to develop a simple solution. When the third row is empty, a single motion actuator can drop the headrests with the push of a button to increase visibility.Every path that leads to the interior is sealed in one or more ways and joints are made as tight as possible by using sealer between panels, which expands during the paint process. Laminated glass comes standard in all models. Durango features a double wall separating the engine compartment and the vehicle cabin to limit the amount of under-hood engine noise to occupants.</p>
<p>
<strong>TWO POWERTRAIN SYSTEMS COMPLEMENT THE DRIVING SPIRIT</strong>
<br/>The all-new Durango is available with two powertrains that provide rear-wheel-drive performance and fuel efficiency. Engines available in the all-new 2011 Dodge Durango include the flex-fuel 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 and 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 &#150; both engines feature variable valve timing (VVT). When equipped with the Pentastar V-6, the Durango can drive more than 500 miles on a tank of gas.</p>
<p>
<strong>3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine</strong>
<br/>The 3.6-liter V-6 engine is an all-new design, featuring double-overhead camshafts (DOHC) and a high-pressure die-cast aluminum cylinder block in a 60 degree configuration. Contributing to best-in-class V-6 towing for Durango, the engine delivers 290 horsepower (216 kW) at 6,400 rpm and 260 lb.-ft. (353 N&#183;m) of torque at 4,800 rpm, providing customers with more than 14 percent improvement in fuel economy, a 38 percent increase in horsepower and 11 percent increase in torque over the engine it replaces. The EPA fuel economy miles per gallon (mpg) (City/Hwy) are 16/23 for rear-wheel-drive models, 16/22 for all-wheel-drive models.</p>
<p>
<strong>5.7-liter HEMI V-8 engine</strong>
<br/>The all-new 2011 Dodge Durango is also available with the legendary 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 engine with fuel-saver mode. The 5.7-liter delivers 360 horsepower (268 kW) and 390 lb.-ft. of torque (520 N&#183;m) at 4,250 rpm and also features VVT. The available V-8 delivers performance, best-in-class 7,400 lbs. of towing capability and fuel efficiency. The EPA fuel economy mpg (City/Hwy) is 14/20 for rear-wheel-drive models and 13/20 for all-wheel-drive models.</p>
<p>The 2011 Dodge Durango features two automatic transmissions and two available full-time all-wheel-drive systems (V-6 and V-8 versions). The drivelines provide smooth operation of the vehicle over a variety of road conditions. Where competitors have switched to car-based platforms, the HEMI-powered, all-wheel-drive Durango features a low-range transfer case for light off-road recreation and to ease maneuvers while towing, such as pulling a boat out of the water from a high degree launch or backing up with a trailer attached.</p>
<p>
<strong>A PLANTED PROFILE AND AN UNFORGETTABLE INTERIOR</strong>
<br/>The all-new Dodge Durango carries the muscular body and confident personality customers expect from Dodge and surprises with all the utility and convenience designed to fulfill the needs of a three-row family or the active individual with plenty of recreational equipment.</p>
<p>&#34;We took the performance car mantra from our own backyard and applied the formula to Durango,&#34; said Joe Dehner, Head of Dodge and Ram Design &#150; Chrysler Group LLC. &#34;The Durango and Charger were designed at the same time, allowing the bold styling from the Charger to spill over to our all-new three-row SUV.&#34;</p>
<p>In line with Charger, the side profile of the Durango features a powerful shape, accented by muscular fender arches and curves that flow back in through the doors, resembling the iconic shape of a &#34;coke-bottle.&#34; The greenhouse of the car blends seamlessly into the body, completing the &#34;double-diamond&#34; shape. A body-color rear spoiler significantly reduces drag and adds visual drama to the side profile.</p>
<p>The Durango&#39;s all-new interior is a surprise owners always deserved but never expected. Created by the same interior design studio that designed the much-lauded interior in the Ram trucks and the all-new Jeep&#174; Grand Cherokee, the Durango&#39;s upscale interior materials and thoughtful design will make owners and their crews want to jump in, hunker down and thoroughly enjoy even the longest drive. Everywhere they touch, from the steering wheel all the way back to the soft third row armrest, Durango passengers will feel materials that are refined. Not only is it a pleasure to behold, it is extremely functional and gives owners a first-class experience, regardless of the trim level. Durango&#39;s interior is also extremely comfortable for all three rows of passengers, and there&#39;s a surprising amount of interior flexibility.</p>
<p>The all-new instrument panel features a beautifully crafted monotone or two-tone appearance with a dark upper and lighter lower color and premium soft-touch materials for all price classes. Panel construction also features tighter gaps when compared to its predecessor and almost 50 percent fewer intersections of parts for higher fit and finish levels, giving customers &#34;I can&#39;t believe this is mine&#34; looks.</p>
<p>
<strong>MORE THAN 45 SAFETY AND SECURITY FEATURES AVAILABLE</strong>
<br/>The all-new 2011 Dodge Durango offers consumers 45 safety and security features, including standard electronic stability control (ESC) that delivers three security features to improve overall vehicle stability both on- and off-road: electronic roll mitigation (ERM) reacts and applies brakes during extreme situations, while available Hill-start Assist (HSA) works with standard Trailer-sway Control (TSC) to enhance off-road and towing capabilities.</p>
<p>Other safety and security features available on the 2011 Dodge Durango include Blind-spot Monitoring (BSM) and Rear Cross Path (RCP) detection, which aid drivers when they&#39;re changing lanes or in parking lot situations. In addition, Durango features standard seat-mounted air bags in the front row. A side curtain air bag extends protection to all three rows. Durango also includes standard front-row active head restraints.</p>
<p>
<strong>QUALITY IS TESTED WITH A NEW PROCESS</strong>
<br/>Chrysler Group engineers put the 2011 Dodge Durango to the test, actually thousands of tests, to ensure its performance and reliability for the long haul.</p>
<p>&#34;The Dodge Durango was designed, developed and built with quality as a top priority at every stage of the process,&#34; said Doug Betts, Senior Vice President, Quality &#150; Chrysler Group LLC. &#34;For example, we have increased the precision and the number of evaluations of fit-and-finish, making adjustments starting with the early digital design phase. Our engineers benchmark hundreds of criteria to set and achieve aggressive targets for performance against competitors.&#34;</p>
<p>Beginning with the all-new models developed for the 2011 model year, Chrysler Group has significantly increased the number of reliability testing miles. Engineers tested the new Durango for the equivalent of 6 million miles during its reliability and durability evaluation in the company&#39;s scientific labs, at the proving grounds and on public roads in various climates. This builds upon the 7.5 million testing miles of the Durango&#39;s platform mate, Jeep Grand Cherokee, for a total of 13.5 million miles for the company&#39;s redesigned SUV platform.</p>
<p>Chrysler Group has adopted new manufacturing quality processes from its global alliance partner Fiat as part of the World Class Manufacturing (WCM) initiative. To help consistently execute these standards, the Jefferson North Assembly Plant (JNAP) in Detroit, where the Durango is built, is the first Chrysler Group assembly plant to house a Metrology Center.</p>
<p>The Metrology Center is a new 20,000-square-foot space within the body shop dedicated to verifying the fit of each body component and how well it conforms to the design requirement.</p>
<p>Quality inspections do not end once Dodge Durango SUVs reach the end of the assembly line. During the initial launch, 60 to 100 newly-built vehicles are randomly selected and driven up to 60 miles in a final verification test to make sure the customer receives top notch quality.</p>
<p>
<strong>HIGH-TECH FEATURES KEEP PASSENGERS ENTERTAINED AND SECURE</strong>
<br/>From families taking a long road trip and needing to keep the kids entertained, to sports enthusiasts who don&#39;t want to miss the game and teens who can&#39;t live without on-line gaming, the all-new 2011 Dodge Durango offers the latest high-tech features to keep driver&#39;s eyes on the road and passengers connected. Drivers can communicate, navigate and select entertainment options with advanced voice-recognition controls. Passengers can stay entertained with the latest available features, including, SIRIUS Satellite Radio&#8482;, SIRIUS Backseat TV&#8482; and Uconnect&#174; Web.</p>
<p>
<strong>ABOUT DODGE</strong>
<br/>Dodge is a full line of cars, minivans and SUVs that are agile, daring, sensible and inventive. The brand is on a tear for the 2011 model year, redefining itself with six all-new or significantly redesigned new vehicles, introducing new lifestyle packages designed to better meet the needs of its customers, launching catchy new ads that have started conversations with owners and potential owners, actively participating in new events and sponsorships and developing relationships with its long-loyal enthusiast base, as well as reaching out to customers who desire cars that leave them wanting more.</p>
<p>The Dodge product line includes the Dodge Caliber, Dodge Avenger, Dodge Challenger, Dodge Charger, Dodge Grand Caravan, Dodge Journey, Dodge Nitro and Dodge Viper SRT10&#174;. Between the end of 2010 and early 2011, the brand will fill dealer showrooms with a vast array of new and updated products. The all-new Dodge Durango will lead the charge, followed by the all-new Dodge Charger and significantly revamped Grand Caravan, Journey, Avenger and Challenger.</p>
<p>
<strong>MANUFACTURING</strong>
<br/>Dodge launched production of the all-new 2011 Dodge Durango at the Jefferson North Assembly Plant (JNAP) in November 2010. Durango will arrive in dealerships in the fourth quarter of 2010.</p>]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">2010_11_15_2011_dodge_durango_v2</guid><pubDate>November 15, 2010</pubDate><category>dodge_news dodge internal durango</category><source url="http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news">Chrysler Media Services LLC</source><dc:subject name="Dodge News" category="System Tag">dodge_news</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Dodge" category="System Tag">dodge</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Recent News From" category="System Tag">internal</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Durango" category="Dodge Vehicles">durango</dc:subject></item>
<item><title>The Originator is Back with an All-new New Attitude - The new 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan: New Heart, New Moves, New Soul</title><link>http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news/articles/?guid=2010_10_28_2011_dodge_gc</link><description><![CDATA[
<ul>
<li>New Dodge Grand Caravan lets customers express their personal style, provides a spirited driving experience and includes the latest technology to keep families connected  </li>
<li>A new powertrain provides more horsepower and more torque without sacrificing fuel economy  </li>
<li>Significant suspension overhaul delivers an exceptional driving experience with just the right amount of attitude  </li>
<li>New exterior and interior styling focus on craftsmanship, a more sculpted, aggressive exterior style, a world-class soft-touch interior, more comfortable seats, clever functionality and the best storage in the segment  </li>
<li>All the safety features consumers expect and a 5-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty provide peace of mind  </li>
</ul>
<p>Dodge continues its new product onslaught with the new 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan, a minivan with the driving dynamics of a performance sedan &#151; and a little bit of attitude.</p>
<p>&#34;At Dodge, we believe that just because a driver needs the versatility of a minivan doesn&#39;t mean that the experience has to be boring,&#34; said Ralph Gilles, President and CEO &#151; Dodge Brand, Chrysler Group LLC. &#34;Our engineers redesigned and retuned virtually every system in the new Grand Caravan&#39;s suspension. That suspension overhaul, combined with a new V-6 engine that delivers best-in-class horsepower, gives Grand Caravan drivers a dynamic driving experience that other minivans in the segment just don&#39;t deliver. We encourage you to get behind the wheel, and enjoy a driving experience once never thought possible in such a functional vehicle.&#34;</p>
<p>The 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan will be available in four configurations that fit almost any lifestyle: the Express, Mainstreet, Crew, and arriving in spring 2011, the Dodge Grand Caravan R/T.</p>
<p>
<strong>NEW PENTASTAR V-6 ENGINE DRIVES THE CHANGES</strong>
<br/>At the heart of the 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan is an all-new powertrain. The new 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine is mated to a smooth-shifting six-speed automatic transaxle. This potent combination replaces all three of the previous minivan engines. Gone are the 3.3-liter, 3.8-liter and 4.0-liter V-6 engines, all replaced with one high-tech, high-performing and highly responsive motor that hits the sweet spot between power and efficiency.</p>
<p>With the Pentastar engine, the new Grand Caravan delivers best-in-class horsepower (283 hp compared with 197 hp in the previous 3.8-liter V-6 engine) and more torque (260 lb.-ft. versus 230 lb.-ft.) without sacrificing fuel economy.</p>
<p>The 2011 Grand Caravan also features a new driver-selectable fuel economizer mode. Drivers can change the transaxle shift schedule with the flip of a switch to maximize their fuel economy. In addition, a 12 mm lower ride height, new premium, lower-rolling resistance tires, a new spoiler and reduced brake caliper and rear bearing drag all contribute to Dodge Grand Caravan&#39;s class-leading aerodynamics and excellent fuel economy.</p>
<p>
<strong>DRIVER&#39;S ATTITUDE DRIVES DESIGN</strong>
<br/>Dodge has also redesigned the 2011 Grand Caravan to match its new attitude about driving. A new front fascia that sports the new Dodge signature &#34;split crosshair&#34; grille, a new hood and quad headlamps all combine to give the face of the 2011 Grand Caravan a more aggressive feel. A new, more sculpted rear fascia and liftgate, new rear &#34;ring of fire&#34; LED taillamps and new Dodge badge complete the look from front to back.</p>
<p>Also new for 2011 is the latest innovation from the minivan leader: the Stow &#39;n Place&#8482; roof rack system that lets owners stow the roof bows in the side rails when they&#39;re not using them and snap them easily into place when needed. The ability to stow the roof bows when they&#39;re not being used means less aerodynamic drag and wind buffeting and better overall efficiency.</p>
<p>Owners will step inside to an all-new world-class interior for 2011. A modern, new one-piece instrument panel is more intuitive for the customer with improved ergonomics and larger, redesigned gauges. An available new &#34;super&#34; center console provides clever functionality and storage for the active commuter, as well as easy driver/passenger access with a pass-through storage space for larger items, like a purse. Trim rings in the console glow an ambient blue-green color, allowing passengers to find the items they are looking for at night.</p>
<p>The 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan also features more comfortable, larger Stow &#39;n Go&#174; seats with a new, easy to use one-touch fold-down function. New, premium seating materials and new door trim are soft to the touch. A new Dodge brand steering wheel with integrated controls for audio, navigation and speed control also offers a minivan-first heated steering wheel option. The best storage in the segment rounds out the improved interior.</p>
<p>
<strong>MORE THAN 40 SAFETY, SECURITY AND TECHNOLOGY FEATURES KEEP FAMILIES SAFE AND CONNECTED</strong>
<br/>Safety and security features include standard front seat-mounted side air bags, a new driver-side knee blocker air bag, three-row side-curtain air bags, electronic stability control, tire pressure monitoring and remote keyless entry. The available Safety Sphere package of features includes ParkSense&#174; rear park assist system, ParkView&#174; rear backup camera, Blind-spot Monitoring and Rear Cross Path detection system, rain-sensitive wipers and automatic headlamps.</p>
<p>
<strong>PACKAGED TO MEET A VARIETY OF LIFESTYLES</strong>
<br/>R/T is where versatility meets performance and attitude. Uniquely designed both inside and out, the Dodge Grand Caravan R/T proves a driver doesn&#39;t have to give up a spirited driving experience or their identity when they have a family. The 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan R/T throws down the gauntlet for a whole new level of cool transportation for families on the go.</p>
<p>With sleek, athletic styling; smart, cutting-edge entertainment features; flexible seating and cool storage options, the reliability of a 100,000-mile powertrain warranty and models that fit specific lifestyles, the new Dodge Grand Caravan moves families where they need to go in a way that makes the journey of life easier.</p>
<p>The 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan is available in eight paint colors: Blackberry Pearl Coat, Bright Silver Metallic Clear Coat, Brilliant Black Crystal Pearl Coat, Deep Cherry Red Crystal Pearl Coat, Deep Water Blue Pearl Coat, Stone White Clear Coat, Mango Tango Pearl Coat (late availability) and Dark Charcoal Coat (late availability).</p>
<p>The 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan will be built at the Windsor Assembly Plant in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, and will arrive in showrooms later this year.</p>]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">2010_10_28_2011_dodge_gc</guid><pubDate>October 28, 2010</pubDate><category>dodge_news dodge internal grand_caravan</category><source url="http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news">Chrysler Media Services LLC</source><dc:subject name="Dodge News" category="System Tag">dodge_news</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Dodge" category="System Tag">dodge</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Recent News From" category="System Tag">internal</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Grand Caravan" category="Dodge Vehicles">grand_caravan</dc:subject></item>
<item><title>2011 Dodge Journey Crosses Over: A Gorgeous New Spirit and a Driver's Soul</title><link>http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news/articles/?guid=2010_10_20_2011_dodge_journey</link><description><![CDATA[
<p>For 2011, Dodge takes what was good and makes it better. The Dodge Journey receives a major overhaul with a completely redesigned and retuned suspension, a new V-6 engine and a gorgeous new interior. And that&#39;s not all. Journey also features the latest and greatest in vehicle connectivity and customization with the Chrysler Group&#39;s new PowerNet electrical architecture. Owners will feel like they have the world at their fingertips with the Journey&#39;s available touchscreen command center, Uconnect&#174; Touch.</p>
<p>From navigation to voice-command music selections to the ability to check fuel prices, the all-new Uconnect Touch media center makes life in the new 2011 Dodge Journey an excellent adventure for the driver and passengers. Four Uconnect Touch models are available, all featuring easy-to-use controls and class-leading technology. With its touchscreen display and user-friendly, touch-key categories, connecting and controlling personal devices is simple, intuitive and customizable.</p>
<p>The 2011 Dodge Journey is nimble, composed and handles well in all driving and road conditions. Chrysler Group engineers improved routine ride and handling by re-engineering the suspension geometry, adding new, improved premium tires and redesigning the steering for a more precise and coordinated response. Overall, customers will be treated to an energetic, fun-to-drive experience behind the wheel.</p>
<p>In addition, at 283 horsepower and 260 lb.-ft. of torque, the 2011 Dodge Journey &#150; equipped with the new 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine &#150; delivers a 20 percent boost in power compared with the V-6 engine it replaces. It&#39;s mated to a smooth-shifting six-speed transmission.</p>
<p>Drivers also will be treated to a smooth, quiet ride. Engineers reduced noise, vibration and harshness by installing new, premium sound-deadening treatments and insulation throughout the vehicle.</p>
<p>But perhaps the most rewarding surprise is Journey&#39;s new interior. Customers will step into world-class levels of craftsmanship and comfort. A beautifully crafted one-piece instrument panel sets the tone. A new, larger cluster with standard Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC) is positioned in the center of the new gauges. It&#39;s a full-color display backlit in Dodge red lights, giving it a soft glow unlike any in the segment. New, integrated center stack bezels are less angular and more sculpted, and designers softened the radius to make more room for the driver&#39;s knees. The heating and cooling outlets are also redesigned to make them better looking and better functioning. The center console gets a lot of extra cushion on the tilt-and-slide armrest. Lift the lid, and there&#39;s a larger center storage bin with a 12-volt outlet and USB port where owners can hook up their MP3/iPod&#174; charging connections and hide them away.</p>
<p>The design team also worked to make the Journey&#39;s interior more comfortable. They moved the shifter and cup holders, making it easier for drivers and passengers to get their coffee and soda without having to lean over and under the dash. There&#39;s also a larger front storage bin with side nets. The new multi-functioning, three-spoke Dodge brand steering wheel with integrated controls and a wider, longer, soft-touch armrest transforms the driver&#39;s seat into a cockpit-like experience. Comfortable new seats might just make drivers want to take the long way home to get a little extra seat time. The Dodge Journey offers six new interior color and trims to complete the makeover.</p>
<p>On the outside, Journey maintains its sculpted, clean, aggressive lines and adds a new front fascia that sports the signature Dodge brand &#34;split crosshair&#34; honeycomb grille. The fog lamp bezels are bigger and bolder, and Journey models with the Pentastar 3.6-liter V-6 engine get a new, unique more aggressive lower fascia with the honeycomb texture in the grille (late availability). New 19-inch wheels; a new, less angular rear fascia and &#34;ring of fire&#34; LED taillamps wrap it up from front to back.</p>
<p>Journey also is loaded with an abundance of safety and security features, including standard advanced multi-stage front passenger air bags, active head restraints, electronic stability control with all-speed traction control, electronic roll mitigation and Brake Assist, new driver-side knee blocker air bag, side-curtain air bags covering all three rows, front seat-mounted side air bags, four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes, LATCH child seat anchor system and Trailer-sway Control.</p>
<p>The Dodge Journey is built in at Chrysler Group LLC&#39;s Toluca Assembly Plant in Toluca, Mexico. It will arrive in U.S. dealerships in fourth quarter of 2010.</p>]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">2010_10_20_2011_dodge_journey</guid><pubDate>October 20, 2010</pubDate><category>dodge_news dodge internal journey</category><source url="http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news">Chrysler Media Services LLC</source><dc:subject name="Dodge News" category="System Tag">dodge_news</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Dodge" category="System Tag">dodge</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Recent News From" category="System Tag">internal</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Journey" category="Dodge Vehicles">journey</dc:subject></item>
<item><title>Dodge Brand Product Onslaught Continues:  Introducing the All-New 2011 Dodge Charger,  World-Class Performance and Precision with an Iconic Soul</title><link>http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news/articles/?guid=2010_10_05_Dodge_2011_Charger_Press_Release</link><description><![CDATA[
<p>Auburn Hills, Mich. &#45;  With its iconic character, contemporary fastback four-door coupe proportions, world-class performance, craftsmanship and refinement, and state-of-the-art connectivity features, the all-new 2011 Charger is the Dodge brand&#39;s flagship that proudly delivers premium, world-class E-segment sedan precision at an incredible value.</p>
<p>The efficient and aerodynamic exterior of the 2011 Dodge Charger is spiritually inspired by the iconic second-generation Charger from the late 1960s, featuring a design that is sure to strike an emotional chord with Dodge performance enthusiasts of all generations.</p>
<p>With its sinister &#34;ready to attack the road&#34; face, the all-new Dodge Charger puts the world&#39;s best E-segment sedan competitors between its new &#34;split crosshair&#34; signature grille. Its sculpted all-new body is a conscious nod to its deep heritage and muscle-car roots. The Charger&#39;s profile is also a modern affair, a result of countless hours in the wind tunnel, from its lower hood line, faster windshield and radically raked backlight to its tighter wheel openings, lower sill and race-car-like flat underbody, the Charger effortlessly cuts thought the air with its attitudes intact. The aluminum hood features dual &#34;scallops&#34; that bring a sculptured, performance look to the front end, while large body-side scallops deliver a striking undulating A-line across the doors. Running front to rear is the iconic horizontal &#34;coke bottle&#34; or &#34;double-diamond&#34; body-side styling that creates a tapering silhouette accented with muscular front and rear fenders and gives the Dodge Charger one of the most distinct profiles on the road. Defining the fastback&#39;s wide stance is an all-new signature tail lamp design that incorporates 164 illuminating LEDs to form its signature &#34;racetrack&#34; graphic and gives the new Charger its unmistakable character from blocks away.</p>
<p>The 2011 Dodge Charger&#39;s interior cockpit is meant to be an enthusiast office. The all new design feature premium materials throughout. Transmitting the performance chassis&#39; world-class feel of the road, the all-new Charger features a new thick-rimmed three-spoke Dodge steering wheel for enhanced performance feel and grip. Crafted in world-class materials, Charger&#39;s passengers are surrounded with comfort, craftsmanship and style, thanks to premium soft-touch materials and four available distinct interior color combinations. The all-new 2011 Dodge Charger&#39;s state-of-the-art Uconnect&#174; Touch integrates world-class infotainment and convenience technologies to keep passengers connected, comfortable and secure. From segment-leading Garmin&#174; navigation, to dual-zone climate controls and the ability to check fuel prices with the integration of available SIRIUS Travel Link, Uconnect Touch delivers an excellent experience for Charger&#39;s driver and passengers.</p>
<p>Maximizing its unibody&#39;s world-class structural stiffness, Dodge Charger engineers were able to tune the cabin for sound quality &#40;rather than sound level&#41; by isolating powertrain, road and wind noise. In addition, Charger&#39;s unibody packages material and structural design improvements, including dual-pane acoustic windshield and front-door side glass, body-cavity silencing foam, under-flush roll-framed doors with triple seals and acoustic wheel-well liners to absorb road noise and quiet the cabin. Combined, these design improvements place the all-new Dodge Charger&#39;s interior sound quality among the best in the E-segment.</p>
<p>As the Dodge brand&#39;s flagship, the chassis of the all-new 2011 Charger is designed, engineered and fine-tuned to deliver a level of quality, capability and refinement that rivals the very best European, Asian and North American E-segment sedans. With its new second-generation E-segment rear-wheel drive (RWD) architecture, Dodge Charger features world-class suspension-tunings with re-designed geometry making for a nimble, balanced chassis that will build the Charger&#39;s legend as one of the best driving sedans in the world.</p>
<p>Engineered to perform against the best E-segment sport sedans, the all-new 2011 Dodge Charger SE and Charger Rallye feature the new 3.6-liter Pentastar engine for world-class levels of power, refinement, technology and fuel efficiency. For maximum thrills, efficiency and best-in-class power, the new Dodge Charger R/T lineup features the legendary 5.7-liter HEMI&#8482; V-8 engine with four-cylinder mode FuelSaver Technology.</p>
<p>The all-new 2011 Dodge Charger R/T with all-wheel-drive (AWD) features a re-thought stance and 19-inch wheels to make it much more appealing than ever before. The AWD preserves the Charger&#39;s character and deepens its performance envelope in the most treacherous conditions. The Charger AWD features a segment-exclusive active transfer case and front-axle disconnect system to improve fuel economy by up to 5 percent. No other major automotive manufacturer offers the combination of these two independent technologies. Dodge Charger&#39;s innovative AWD system seamlessly transitions between RWD and AWD with no driver intervention. When all-wheel drive is not required, the system automatically disconnects the front axle to maximize fuel economy while still providing the outstanding performance and handling inherent in rear-wheel drive vehicles.</p>
<p>The all-new 2011 Dodge Charger features more than 65 safety and security features, including standard Keyless Enter-N-Go and Electronic Stability Control (ESC) with segment-exclusive Ready-alert Braking and Rainy Day Brake Support safety features to improve overall vehicle handling and performance both on and off the track. Safety and security features available for the first time on the Dodge Charger include adaptive-cruise control (ACC) with forward-collision warning (FCW), blind-spot monitoring (BSM) with rear cross path (RCP) detection and ParkView&#8482; rear back-up camera with grid lines, all designed to provide the driver with added confidence while behind the wheel.</p>
<p>Built at the Brampton Assembly Plant in Brampton, Ont&#183; (Canada), the 2011 Dodge Charger arrives in showrooms in the fourth quarter of 2010.</p>]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">2010_10_05_Dodge_2011_Charger_Press_Release</guid><pubDate>October 5, 2010</pubDate><category>dodge_news dodge internal charger</category><source url="http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news">Chrysler Media Services LLC</source><dc:subject name="Dodge News" category="System Tag">dodge_news</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Dodge" category="System Tag">dodge</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Recent News From" category="System Tag">internal</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Charger" category="Dodge Vehicles">charger</dc:subject></item>
<item><title>Dodge brand product onslaught begins: Introducing the all-new 2011 Dodge Durango, the performance SUV with a soul</title><link>http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news/articles/?guid=2010_9_03_dodge_all_New_2011_Durango</link><description><![CDATA[
<p>Buckle in and hold tight. Dodge is jumping back into the sport utility (SUV) segment with the 2011 Dodge Durango, a three-row vehicle spacious enough to carry the entire crew and performance-tuned to thrill anyone who truly loves to drive. Durango will lead the Dodge brand&#39;s new product onslaught for 2011.</p>
<p>From its sleek exterior design to its modern, spacious interior, and intelligent, fuel-efficient and powerful powertrain options, the 2011 Dodge Durango is all-new from the inside out. And the changes are more than skin deep. The Durango&#39;s stiffened unibody structure is engineered with the driving enthusiast in mind. The end result is a vehicle that delivers premium driving performance combined with SUV capability and crossover versatility.</p>
<p>The all-new Durango features two engine options: the standard fuel-efficient 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine and the available 5.7-liter HEMI engine with fuel-saving, Multi-displacement system (MDS) four-cylinder mode. Both engines feature variable-valve timing (VVT) and are available with all-wheel drive. In addition to great efficiency, the engines provide exceptional V-6 and V-8 towing capability with standard trailer sway control (V-8 - 7,400 lbs. and Best-in-class V-6 - 6,200 lbs.). When equipped with the HEMI&#174; V-8, the all-new Durango can tow more weight than a 24-foot boat and trailer.</p>
<p>The Durango&#39;s all-new interior is a surprise owners always deserved but never expected. Created by the same interior design studio that designed the much-lauded interior in the Ram trucks and the all-new Jeep Grand Cherokee, the Durango&#39;s luxurious interior materials and thoughtful touches will make owners and their crews want to jump in, hunker down and thoroughly enjoy even the longest drive. Everywhere they touch, Durango passengers will feel materials that are refined and soft to the touch. Not only is it a pleasure to behold, it is extremely functional and gives owners a first-class experience, regardless of the trim level. Durango&#39;s interior is also extremely comfortable for all three rows of passengers, and there&#39;s a surprising amount of interior flexibility. With 22 different seating configurations, there&#39;s plenty of room to store and move plenty of people and their gear.The all-new 2011 Dodge Durango also offers consumers 45 safety and security features, including standard front seat-mounted side air bags and standard side-curtain air bags that cover passengers in all three rows, as well as all-new standard active head restraints. Electronic Stability Control also is standard. Other available safety and security technologies include Blind-spot Monitoring, Rear Cross Path detection, Forward Collision Warning, Adaptive Cruise Control and Keyless Enter-n&#39; Go.</p>
<p>The best part is, consumers will get all of the all-new Durango&#39;s capability, functionality and flexibility and still get excellent fuel efficiency. In fact, drivers can go more than 500 miles, that&#39;s the distance from San Diego to San Francisco or from Detroit to New York City, without having to stop for fuel.</p>
<p>Built at the Jefferson North Assembly Plant in Detroit, Mich., the new 2011 Dodge Durango arrives in showrooms in the fourth quarter of 2010.</p>]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">2010_9_03_dodge_all_New_2011_Durango</guid><pubDate>September 2, 2010</pubDate><category>dodge_news dodge internal 2010 durango</category><source url="http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news">Chrysler Media Services LLC</source><dc:subject name="Dodge News" category="System Tag">dodge_news</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Dodge" category="System Tag">dodge</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Recent News From" category="System Tag">internal</dc:subject><dc:subject name="2010" category="System Tag">2010</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Durango" category="Dodge Vehicles">durango</dc:subject></item>
<item><title>&#8216;Letters for Lyrics' National Letter-writing Campaign Continues This Memorial Day Weekend</title><link>http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news/articles/?guid=2010_5_27_letter_for_lyrics_memorial_day_weekend</link><description><![CDATA[
<p>Ram Truck Brand and Zac Brown Band partner to send 1 million letters to U.S. soldiers stationed around the world</p>
<ul>
<li>More than 25&#44;000 letters collected in the first two weeks</li>
<li>Approximately 70&#44;000 letters collected to date</li>
<li>Write a letter and receive a &#34;Breaking Southern Ground&#34; CD featuring three all&#45;new songs from Zac Brown Band</li>
<li>All U.S. Ram Truck dealerships and most Zac Brown Band concerts serve as collection points and provide letter&#45;writing stations</li>
<li>Soldiers&#39; Angels to deliver letters to U.S. troops on behalf of the Ram Truck Brand and Zac Brown Band</li>
<li>Premiere of &#34;For Those Who Serve&#44;&#34; the exclusive documentary of Zac Brown Band&#39;s USO tour&#44; directed by Darren Doane&#44; debuts at www.ramtrucks.com&#47;en&#47;letters&#95;for&#95;lyrics&#47;</li>
</ul>
<p>Auburn Hills&#44; Mich. &#44; May 26&#44; 2010  &#45;  More than 70&#44;000 people have shown their appreciation to U.S. soldiers stationed across the world by submitting letters at their local Ram Truck dealership or Zac Brown Band&#39;s recent concerts. However&#44; for the Ram Truck Brand and Zac Brown Band that is simply not enough. The Ram Truck Brand and Zac Brown Band partnered for &#34;Letters for Lyrics&#44;&#34; a national letter&#45;writing campaign aimed at U.S. soldiers deployed around the world. Together&#44; they want to send 1 million letters of appreciation to U.S. soldiers and they will not stop until they reach that goal.</p>
<p>In exchange for writing a letter to a U.S. soldier&#44; participants receive a special compilation CD titled&#44; &#34;Breaking Southern Ground.&#34; This exclusive CD features three all&#45;new songs from Zac Brown Band&#44; as well as music from artists signed to Zac Brown&#39;s label&#44; Southern Ground Artists &#8212; Sonia Leigh&#44; Nic Cowan and Levi Lowrey.</p>
<p>&#34;The Ram Truck Brand has been moved by the kindness and gratitude that has been expressed so far to our men and women in the military&#44;&#34; said Fred Diaz&#44; President and CEO &#8212; Ram Truck Brand&#44; Chrysler Group LLC. &#34;As we head into Memorial Day &#8212; a holiday that remembers those who dedicated their lives for our freedom &#8212; I encourage everyone to take a few moments this week to visit their local Ram Truck dealership to write a letter of support to our military men and women who show commitment and valor to this great country.&#34;</p>
<p>&#34;We&#39;re so proud of the immediate response we&#39;ve received for &#39;Letters for Lyrics&#39; over the past two weeks. The support our fans have shown and the stories they&#39;ve shared with us about how the campaign has moved them to show their appreciation is truly inspirational.&#34; said Zac Brown. &#34;This Monday&#44; as we observe Memorial Day&#44; we&#39;ll show our respect for the U.S. men and women who have given their lives in the military service and send our thoughts to those out there protecting our country and way of life. We ask that everyone help us show your appreciation for their heroic efforts.&#34;</p>
<p>Soldiers&#39; Angels&#44; a nonprofit organization&#44; will deliver the letters on behalf of the Ram Truck Brand and Zac Brown Band. Soldiers&#39; Angels is a volunteer&#45;led organization with over 225&#44;000 members providing aid and comfort to the men and women of the U.S. Army&#44; Navy&#44; Marines&#44; Air Force&#44; Coast Guard&#44; along with veterans and their families.</p>
<p>&#34;We are proud of the way America stands wingtip&#45;to&#45;wingtip in support of our American service members and encourage everyone to head to their local Dodge Ram Trucks dealership or Zac Brown concert and participate in one of the greatest collaborative troop support outreach projects in the history of the global war on terror&#44;&#34; said Patti Patton&#45;Bader&#44; Soldiers&#39; Angels Founder.</p>
<p>As part of the &#34;Letters for Lyrics&#34; campaign&#44; RamTrucks.com also debuts the video installment of &#34;For Those Who Serve&#44;&#34; a documentary of Zac Brown Band&#39;s visit to U.S. soldiers stationed in the Persian Gulf. This exclusive behind&#45;the&#45;scenes video is directed by Darren Doane&#44; the CMT&#45;nominated director of Zac Brown Band&#39;s live &#34;Pass the Jar&#34; DVD &#40;Southern Ground&#47;Atlantic&#41; and their music video for the No. 1 hit &#34;Toes.&#34; Doane traveled with the band to the Persian Gulf to document the moving experience&#44; capturing footage of the band performing for the troops and meeting with the men and women in uniform. Chapters from Doane&#39;s documentary will debut on RamTrucks.com throughout the campaign.</p>
<p>
<strong>About Zac Brown Band</strong>
<br/>Zac Brown Band were named GRAMMY&#39;s &#34;Best New Artist&#34; in 2010. They also earned four Academy of Country Music Award nominations including one for &#34;Entertainer of the Year.&#34; The band&#39;s double platinum&#45;certified&#44; major label debut &#8216;The Foundation&#39; &#40;Atlantic&#41; &#45; one of Billboard&#39;s Top 20 albums of 2009 &#45; features the band&#39;s first four #1 singles. Currently on the road with their &#34;Breaking Southern Ground&#34; national tour&#44; Zac Brown Band will also join the Dave Matthews Band to perform at select shows across the U.S. this summer including New York&#39;s Citi Field. Zac Brown Band is represented by ROAR&#44; a Beverly Hills&#45;based management company. Additional information can be found at http&#58;&#47;&#47;www.zacbrownband.com&#47;.</p>
<p>
<strong>About Soldiers&#39; Angels</strong>
<br/>Soldiers&#39; Angels is a full service deployed troop&#44; military family&#44; wounded and veterans service organization serving all those who serve all of us with over twenty very effective programs. We specialize in the unique needs uncovered by other agencies&#44; military benefits and medical insurance. Founded in 2003 by Patti Patton&#45;Bader&#44; the mother of an army soldier deployed to Iraq&#44; Soldiers&#39; Angels has grown from a small care package organization to major source of aid for all those who serve or have served in our Armed Forces. Last year&#44; we provided over 25 million dollars worth of assistance. Our slogan&#44; &#34;May No Soldier Go Unloved&#44;&#34; encapsulates the motivation behind Soldiers&#39; Angels. By working together and sharing a common vision of service&#44; the volunteers of Soldiers&#39; Angels continue to demonstrate active care and concern for veterans&#44; the wounded&#44; deployed service members&#44; and their families. From our very inception&#44; the focus of Soldiers&#39; Angels has been&#58; Helping bring home healthy soldiers. Visit www.soldiersangels.org&#44; www.facebook.com&#47;SoldiersAngelsOfficial and www.twitter.com&#47;soldiersangels to find out more.</p>
<p>
<strong>About the Ram Truck Brand</strong>
<br/>With a work&#45;hard&#44; play&#45;hard attitude&#44; the Ram Truck brand offers the boldest&#44; most powerful and capable pickup truck lineup on the planet.</p>
<p>The Ram Truck brand will add to its award&#45;winning truck lineup with the introduction of its all&#45;new 2010 Ram 2500 and 3500 Heavy Duty trucks&#44; Motor Trend&#39;s Truck of the Year. The new heavy&#45;duty trucks provide customers with first&#45;time innovations and features along with new standards of strength&#44; utility and driveability&#44; building on the Ram&#39;s leadership in the heavy&#45;duty pickup segment.</p>
<p>Introduced in 2008&#44; the Ram 1500 is a game changer in terms of its ability to &#34;outsmart&#34; and &#34;out&#45;tough&#34; the competition with its bold exterior design&#44; crafted and refined interior&#44; engineering excellence&#44; superb innovation and best&#45;in&#45;class features and amenities. The Ram 1500 also ranks at the top of Strategic Vision Inc.&#39;s &#40;SVI&#41; 2009 Total Quality Index&#8482; &#40;TQI&#41; in the full&#45;size truck segment. According to the survey&#44; the Ram 1500 leads the way with the highest Total Quality score of any truck in the 15&#45;year history of the study. Customers specifically noted that the Ram has the best added storage capability along with the best truck interior ever rated by customers.</p>
<p>The Ram Truck brand will further enhance its commercial vehicle presence with the introduction of a &#34;new crew&#34; of commercial&#45;grade work trucks&#58; the new 2011 Ram 3500&#44; 4500 and 5500 Chassis Cabs. Led by an all&#45;new crew cab&#44; the new 2011 Ram Chassis Cabs are built on a proven frame and chassis&#44; and engineered for maximum uptime&#44; optimum performance and enhanced commercial capability.</p>
<p>
<strong>Follow Ram Truck and Chrysler Group LLC news and video on&#58;</strong>
<br/>Chrysler Connect blog&#58; http&#58;&#47;&#47;blog.chryslergroupllc.com<br/>Twitter&#58; www.twitter.com&#47;chrysler<br/>YouTube&#58; http&#58;&#47;&#47;www.youtube.com&#47;pentastarvideo<br/>Streetfire&#58; http&#58;&#47;&#47;members.streetfire.net&#47;profile&#47;ChryslerVideo.htm<br/>Ram Trucks&#58; http&#58;&#47;&#47;www.ramtrucks.com<br/>Ram Zone blog&#58; http&#58;&#47;&#47;www.ramzone.com</p>]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">2010_5_27_letter_for_lyrics_memorial_day_weekend</guid><pubDate>May 27, 2010</pubDate><category>dodge_news dodge internal 2010 ram</category><source url="http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news">Chrysler Media Services LLC</source><dc:subject name="Dodge News" category="System Tag">dodge_news</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Dodge" category="System Tag">dodge</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Recent News From" category="System Tag">internal</dc:subject><dc:subject name="2010" category="System Tag">2010</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Ram" category="Dodge Vehicles">ram</dc:subject></item>
<item><title>Ram Truck Brand and Zac Brown Band Launch 'Letters for Lyrics'  National Letter-Writing Campaign to U.S. Soldiers</title><link>http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news/articles/?guid=2010_5_7_letter_for_lyrics_writing_campaign</link><description><![CDATA[
<ul>
<li>Write a letter and receive a &#34;Breaking Southern Ground&#34; CD featuring three all&#45;new songs from Zac Brown Band</li>
<li>Goal to deliver 1 million letters to U.S. soldiers stationed across the world</li>
<li>All U.S. Ram Truck dealerships will serve as collection points and provide letter&#45;writing stations</li>
<li>Letters to be collected at Zac Brown Band Concerts</li>
<li>Soldiers&#39; Angels to deliver letters to U.S. Troops on behalf of the Ram Truck Brand and Zac Brown Band</li>
<li>Exclusive documentary&#45;style footage of Zac Brown Band&#39;s USO tour directed by Darren Doane to debut on RAM Truck Brand&#39;s Letter for Lyrics site</li>
</ul>
<p>ATLANTA&#44; May 7&#44; 2010  &#45;</p>
<p>The Ram Truck Brand&#44; in partnership with Zac Brown Band&#44; kicks off &#34;Letters for Lyrics&#44;&#34; a national letter&#45;writing campaign targeted to U.S. soldiers. The goal for the Ram Truck Brand and Zac Brown Band is to send 1 million letters to U.S. troops deployed around the world.</p>
<p>In exchange for writing a letter to a U.S. soldier&#44; participants will receive a special compilation CD titled&#44; &#34;Breaking Southern Ground.&#34; This exclusive CD features three all&#45;new songs from Zac Brown Band&#44; as well as music from artists signed to Zac Brown&#39;s label&#44; Southern Ground Records &#8212; Sonia Leigh&#44; Nic Cowan and Levi Lowrey.</p>
<p>&#34;The Ram Truck Brand is grateful for the commitment and courage that U.S. soldiers give to this country each day&#44;&#34; said Fred Diaz&#44; President and CEO &#8212; Ram Truck Brand&#44; Chrysler Group LLC. &#34;Our company has been steadfast in its support of America&#39;s armed services; we know these letters will help brighten a soldier&#39;s day. We encourage our employees&#44; suppliers and our customers to visit a local Ram Truck dealership to write or drop off a letter for these soldiers who protect our right to freedom.&#34;</p>
<p>&#34;We&#39;ve had several opportunities to perform for the troops over the past year and each time we were deeply inspired by their positive attitudes and dedication to protecting our country and preserving our way of life&#44;&#34; said Zac Brown. &#34;We were so moved that we knew we needed to recognize their efforts in a big way. Our hope is that by combining our experience overseas&#44; our music&#44; and the good people at Ram Truck Brand&#44; we will be able to rally a movement of support for our brave service members abroad.&#34;</p>
<p>Darren Doane&#44; the CMT nominated director of Zac Brown Band&#39;s live &#39;Pass the Jar&#39; DVD &#40;Southern Ground&#47;Atlantic&#41; and their music video for the #1 hit &#34;Toes&#44;&#34; traveled with the band to the Persian Gulf to document the moving experience &#8212; capturing footage of the band performing for the troops and meeting individually with the men and women in uniform. Bringing the experience home&#44; Doane has constructed several mini&#45;documentary style videos which will be posted to RamTrucks.com starting today and updated throughout the coming weeks.</p>
<p>&#34;This unique endeavor is derived from respect and admiration&#44; from both the Ram Truck Brand and Zac Brown Band&#44; for the men and women in the military&#44;&#34; said Marissa Hunter&#44; Head of Ram Truck Brand Communications&#44; Chrysler Group LLC. &#34;It is our hope that these letters serve as a source of appreciation and comfort.&#34;</p>
<p>Letters will be collected at Zac Brown Band concerts and all U.S. Ram Truck dealerships. People interested in writing a letter can visit any Ram Truck dealership where special &#34;Letters for Lyrics&#34; stationery will be provided.</p>
<p>Soldiers&#39; Angels&#44; a nonprofit organization&#44; will deliver the letters on behalf of the Zac Brown Band and the Ram Truck Brand. Soldiers&#39; Angels is a volunteer&#45;led organization with over 225&#44;000 members providing aid and comfort to the men and women of the U.S. Army&#44; Navy&#44; Marines&#44; Air Force&#44; Coast Guard&#44; along with veterans and their families.</p>
<p>&#34;By standing wingtip to wingtip&#44; the Ram Truck Brand&#44; Zac Brown Band and Soldiers&#39; Angels will be able to help build morale to heroes in combat zones one million fold&#44;&#34; said Soldiers&#39; Angels founder and president&#44; Patti Patton&#45;Bader. &#34;We are truly grateful to the Ram Truck Brand and Zac Brown Band for their help in ensuring that our heroes know they are loved and appreciated.&#34;</p>
<p>The &#34;Letters for Lyrics&#34; campaign is part of an integrated marketing campaign for the 2010 Ram Heavy Duty and is supported with broadcast&#44; print&#44; digital and social media efforts that will run concurrently.</p>
<p>
<strong>About Zac Brown Band</strong>
<br/>Zac Brown Band were named GRAMMY&#39;s &#34;Best New Artist&#34; in 2010. They also earned four Academy of Country Music Award nominations including one for &#34;Entertainer of the Year.&#34; The band&#39;s double platinum&#45;certified&#44; major label debut &#8216;The Foundation&#39; &#40;Atlantic&#41; &#45; one of Billboard&#39;s Top 20 albums of 2009 &#45; features the band&#39;s first four #1 singles. Currently on the road with their &#34;Breaking Southern Ground&#34; national tour&#44; Zac Brown Band will also join the Dave Matthews Band to perform at select shows across the U.S. this summer including New York&#39;s Citi Field. Zac Brown Band is represented by ROAR&#44; a Beverly Hills&#45;based management company. Additional information can be found at http&#58;&#47;&#47;www.zacbrownband.com&#47;.</p>
<p>
<strong>About Soldiers&#39; Angels</strong>
<br/>Soldiers&#39; Angels is a full service deployed troop&#44; military family&#44; wounded and veterans service organization serving all those who serve all of us with over twenty very effective programs. We specialize in the unique needs uncovered by other agencies&#44; military benefits and medical insurance. Founded in 2003 by Patti Patton&#45;Bader&#44; the mother of an army soldier deployed to Iraq&#44; Soldiers&#39; Angels has grown from a small care package organization to major source of aid for all those who serve or have served in our Armed Forces. Last year&#44; we provided over 25 million dollars worth of assistance. Our slogan&#44; &#34;May No Soldier Go Unloved&#44;&#34; encapsulates the motivation behind Soldiers&#39; Angels. By working together and sharing a common vision of service&#44; the volunteers of Soldiers&#39; Angels continue to demonstrate active care and concern for veterans&#44; the wounded&#44; deployed service members&#44; and their families. From our very inception&#44; the focus of Soldiers&#39; Angels has been&#58; Helping bring home healthy soldiers. Visit www.soldiersangels.org&#44; www.facebook.com&#47;SoldiersAngelsOfficial and www.twitter.com&#47;soldiersangels to find out more.</p>
<p>
<strong>About the Ram Truck Brand</strong>
<br/>With a work&#45;hard&#44; play&#45;hard attitude&#44; the Ram Truck brand offers the boldest&#44; most powerful and capable pickup truck lineup on the planet.</p>
<p>The Ram Truck brand will add to its award&#45;winning truck lineup with the introduction of its all&#45;new 2010 Ram 2500 and 3500 Heavy Duty trucks&#44; Motor Trend&#39;s Truck of the Year. The new heavy&#45;duty trucks provide customers with first&#45;time innovations and features along with new standards of strength&#44; utility and driveability&#44; building on the Ram&#39;s leadership in the heavy&#45;duty pickup segment.</p>
<p>Introduced in 2008&#44; the Ram 1500 is a game changer in terms of its ability to &#34;outsmart&#34; and &#34;out&#45;tough&#34; the competition with its bold exterior design&#44; crafted and refined interior&#44; engineering excellence&#44; superb innovation and best&#45;in&#45;class features and amenities. The Ram 1500 also ranks at the top of Strategic Vision Inc.&#39;s &#40;SVI&#41; 2009 Total Quality Index&#8482; &#40;TQI&#41; in the full&#45;size truck segment. According to the survey&#44; the Ram 1500 leads the way with the highest Total Quality score of any truck in the 15&#45;year history of the study. Customers specifically noted that the Ram has the best added storage capability along with the best truck interior ever rated by customers.</p>
<p>The Ram Truck brand will further enhance its commercial vehicle presence with the introduction of a &#34;new crew&#34; of commercial&#45;grade work trucks&#58; the new 2011 Ram 3500&#44; 4500 and 5500 Chassis Cabs. Led by an all&#45;new crew cab&#44; the new 2011 Ram Chassis Cabs are built on a proven frame and chassis&#44; and engineered for maximum uptime&#44; optimum performance and enhanced commercial capability.</p>
<p>
<strong>Follow Ram Truck and Chrysler Group LLC news and video on&#58;</strong>
<br/>Chrysler Connect blog&#58; http&#58;&#47;&#47;blog.chryslergroupllc.com<br/>Twitter&#58; www.twitter.com&#47;chrysler<br/>YouTube&#58; http&#58;&#47;&#47;www.youtube.com&#47;pentastarvideo<br/>Streetfire&#58; http&#58;&#47;&#47;members.streetfire.net&#47;profile&#47;ChryslerVideo.htm<br/>Ram Trucks&#58; http&#58;&#47;&#47;www.ramtrucks.com<br/>Ram Zone blog&#58; http&#58;&#47;&#47;www.ramzone.com</p>]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">2010_5_7_letter_for_lyrics_writing_campaign</guid><pubDate>May 7, 2010</pubDate><category>dodge_news dodge internal 2010 ram</category><source url="http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news">Chrysler Media Services LLC</source><dc:subject name="Dodge News" category="System Tag">dodge_news</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Dodge" category="System Tag">dodge</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Recent News From" category="System Tag">internal</dc:subject><dc:subject name="2010" category="System Tag">2010</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Ram" category="Dodge Vehicles">ram</dc:subject></item>
<item><title>Ram Truck Brand Named the Official Truck of the Kentucky Derby and Churchill Downs</title><link>http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news/articles/?guid=2010_4_30_ram_truck_official_of_the_kentucky_durby</link><description><![CDATA[
<ul>
<li>Ram Truck Brand announces sponsorship with the Kentucky Derby and Churchill Downs  </li>
<li>Ram Truck logo and vehicle displays to be present in and around Churchill Downs   </li>
</ul>
<p>Thoroughbred horses meet horsepower as the Ram Truck Brand makes a grand entrance on the track and in the winner&#39;s circle for the 136th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. From the Ram Truck logo placement on jockeys&#39; pant legs to work trucks in and around the track&#44; the Ram Truck Brand and Ram trucks will be proudly on display as part of a new sponsorship with the Kentucky Derby and Churchill Downs. Ram trucks wrapped in customized graphics inspired by the unique designs of jockey silks will be positioned throughout Churchill Downs. As part of the overall integration of the Ram Truck Brand with Churchill Downs&#44; the Ram Truck Jobsite Tour trailer will be located near the track so that attendees will be able to engage in the full brand experience.</p>
<p>&#34;The Ram Truck Brand is honored to be a part of the 136th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs as well as the history and tradition associated with this annual event&#44;&#34; said Fred Diaz&#44; President and CEO &#45; Ram Truck Brand&#44; Chrysler Group LLC. &#34;Ram Trucks not only carry people&#44; they tow and deliver precious cargo such as these beautiful&#44; million dollar athletes that grace the race track.&#34; The sponsorship is part of the launch of the 2010 Ram Heavy Duty and includes broadcast media placement that will also air during the Kentucky Derby as well as the 155th Preakness on May 15 and the 2010 Belmont Stakes on June 5. Digital media placement includes direct links to the Ram Truck Brand website on KentuckyDerby.com and ChurchillDowns.com. As part of the sponsorship&#44; the Ram Truck Brand will be part of the winner&#39;s circle as the winner of the Super Hi&#45;5&#45;wager will be awarded with a new Ram truck. &#34;Churchill Downs is excited to see the Ram Truck Brand become Official Truck of Churchill Downs and Official Partner of the 136th Kentucky Derby in such a robust and comprehensive way&#44;&#34; said Kristin L. Warfield&#44; Sr. Director&#44; Partnership Development &#38; Activation&#44; Churchill Downs Incorporated. &#34;Both the Kentucky Derby and the Ram Truck Brand are time&#45;tested&#44; embody the American spirit have a long history of delivering exceptional customer experiences.&#34;</p>
<p>
<strong>About Churchill Downs Incorporated</strong>
<br/>Churchill Downs Incorporated&#44; &#40;&#34;CDI&#34;&#41;&#44; headquartered in Louisville&#44; Ky.&#44; owns and operates four world renowned Thoroughbred racing facilities&#58; Arlington Park in Illinois&#44; Calder Casino &#38; Race Course in Florida&#44; Churchill Downs Race Track in Kentucky and Fair Grounds Race Course &#38; Slots in Louisiana. CDI operates slot and gaming operations in Louisiana and   Florida. CDI tracks are host to North America&#39;s most prestigious races&#44; including the Arlington Million&#44; the Kentucky Derby and the Kentucky Oaks&#44; the Louisiana Derby and the Princess Rooney&#44; along with hosting the Breeders&#39; Cup World Championships for a record seventh time on Nov. 5&#45;6&#44; 2010. CDI also owns off&#45;track betting facilities&#44; TwinSpires.com and other advance&#45;deposit wagering channels&#44; television production&#44; telecommunications and racing service companies such as BRIS and a 50&#45;percent interest in the national cable and satellite network&#44; HorseRacing TV&#44; which supports CDI&#39;s network of simulcasting and racing operations. CDI&#39;s Entertainment Group produces the HullabaLOU Music Festival at Churchill Downs Racetrack which premieres on July 23&#45;25&#44; 2010. CDI trades on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol CHDN and can be found at www.ChurchillDownsIncorporated.com</p>
<p>
<strong>About the Ram Truck Brand</strong>
<br/>With a work&#45;hard&#44; play&#45;hard attitude&#44; the Ram Truck brand offers the boldest&#44; most powerful and capable pickup truck lineup on the planet.</p>
<p>The Ram Truck brand will add to its award&#45;winning truck lineup with the introduction of its all&#45;new 2010 Ram 2500 and 3500 Heavy Duty trucks&#44; Motor Trend&#39;s Truck of the Year. The new heavy&#45;duty trucks provide customers with first&#45;time innovations and features along with new standards of strength&#44; utility and driveability&#44; building on the Ram&#39;s leadership in the heavy&#45;duty pickup segment.</p>
<p>Introduced in 2008&#44; the Ram 1500 is a game changer in terms of its ability to &#34;outsmart&#34; and &#34;out&#45;tough&#34; the competition with its bold exterior design&#44; crafted and refined interior&#44; engineering excellence&#44; superb innovation and best&#45;in&#45;class features and amenities. The Ram 1500 also ranks at the top of Strategic Vision Inc.&#39;s 2009 Total Quality Index&#8482; in the full&#45;size truck segment. According to the survey&#44; the Ram 1500 leads the way with the highest Total Quality score of any truck in the 15&#45;year history of the study. Customers specifically noted that the Ram has the best added storage capability along with the best truck interior ever rated by customers.</p>
<p>The Ram Truck brand will further enhance its commercial vehicle presence with the introduction of a &#34;new crew&#34; of commercial&#45;grade work trucks&#58; the new 2011 Ram 3500&#44; 4500 and 5500 Chassis Cabs. Led by an all&#45;new crew cab&#44; the new 2011 Ram Chassis Cabs are built on a proven frame and chassis&#44; and engineered for maximum uptime&#44; optimum performance and enhanced commercial capability.</p>]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">2010_4_30_ram_truck_official_of_the_kentucky_durby</guid><pubDate>April 30, 2010</pubDate><category>dodge_news dodge internal 2010 ram</category><source url="http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news">Chrysler Media Services LLC</source><dc:subject name="Dodge News" category="System Tag">dodge_news</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Dodge" category="System Tag">dodge</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Recent News From" category="System Tag">internal</dc:subject><dc:subject name="2010" category="System Tag">2010</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Ram" category="Dodge Vehicles">ram</dc:subject></item>
<item><title>Ram Truck Brand and Southern-Rock Artist Zac Brown Band Form Partnership</title><link>http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news/articles/?guid=2010_4_16_ram_truck_zac_brown_partnership</link><description><![CDATA[
<ul>
<li>Launches &#34;Letters for Lyrics&#34; at Chrysler&#44; Dodge&#44; Jeep&#174; and Ram Truck dealerships with goal to deliver one million letters to U.S. soldiers in return for 1 million &#34;Breaking Southern Ground&#34; CDs</li>
<li>Provides exclusive behind&#45;the&#45;scenes footage of the band&#39;s USO Tour featured on RamTrucks.com</li>
<li>Offers exclusive song download of latest single&#44; &#34;Free&#34;</li>
</ul>
<p>Auburn Hills&#44; Mich. &#44; Apr 16&#44; 2010 &#45; The Ram Truck Brand today announced a partnership with GRAMMY&#45;winning artists&#44; Zac Brown Band to help honor U. S. soldiers as well as promote the band&#39;s USO Tour and their latest single.</p>
<p>Fueled by a Platinum major label debut&#44; four #1 singles and numerous honors and accolades&#44; including their GRAMMY win as &#34;Best New Artist&#44;&#34; &#34;Top New Vocal Group&#34; from the Academy of Country Music and &#34;Breakthrough Video of the Year&#34; from Country Music Television and USA Weekend &#45;&#45; Zac Brown Band is poised to move front&#45;and&#45;center in 2010.</p>
<p>&#34;Just as your vehicle is an extension of who you are &#45;&#45; music also defines your inner character&#44;&#34; said Olivier Francois&#44; Lead Marketing Executive&#44; Chrysler Group LLC. &#34;The Ram Truck Brand and Zac Brown Band both strive to connect with people and have a unifying &#39;can do&#39; attitude and a character filled with authenticity&#44; care&#44; passion and pride.&#34;</p>
<p>&#34;We are excited about the new alignment with Zac Brown Band&#44;&#34; said Fred Diaz&#44; President and CEO &#45;&#45; Ram Truck Brand&#44; Chrysler Group LLC. &#34;It&#39;s the Grammy&#45;award winning &#39;Best New Artist&#39; meets the 2010 Motor Trend &#39;Truck of the Year.&#39; It&#39;s a true win&#45;win partnership for our customers&#44; dealers and the Ram Truck Brand.&#34;</p>
<p>&#34;Performing with the USO for the men and women in uniform has been a great experience for us. We wanted to find a bigger way to thank them&#44; a way to mobilize people nationwide to show their support for these incredible individuals&#44;&#34; explains Zac Brown on how the &#34;Letters for Lyrics&#34; campaign came about. &#34;Ram Truck Brand was the perfect partner to realize this dream; not only do they share our commitment to recognize the troops&#39; service and sacrifice but they are determined to ensure this program helps to send a little piece of home to our service members abroad.&#34;</p>
<p>The partnership includes a letter&#45;writing program to U.S. soldiers&#44; exclusive documentary footage from the band&#39;s USO Tour and a song download of the band&#39;s latest single&#44; &#34;Free.&#34;</p>
<p>
<strong>Letters for Lyrics Campaign</strong>
<br/>Starting in May&#44; Zac Brown Band and the Ram Truck Band kick off &#34;Letters for Lyrics&#44;&#34; a national campaign with a goal of sending 1 million letters to U.S. soldiers stationed across the world. Participants who write a letter to a U.S. soldier will receive a special compilation CD titled&#44; &#34;Breaking Southern Ground&#44;&#34; while supplies last. This exclusive CD features three all&#45;new songs from Zac Brown Band&#44; as well as music from artists signed to Zac Brown&#39;s label&#44; Southern Ground Records&#44; Sonia Leigh&#44; Nic Cowan and Levi Lowrey.</p>
<p>Soldier&#39;s Angels&#44; a nonprofit organization&#44; will deliver the letters on behalf of the Zac Brown Band and the Ram Truck Brand. Soldier&#39;s Angels is a volunteer&#45;led organization with over 225&#44;000 members providing aid and comfort to the men and women of the U.S. Army&#44; Navy&#44; Marines&#44; Air Force&#44; Coast Guard&#44; along with veterans and their families.</p>
<p>&#34;We believe that &#39;Letters for Lyrics&#39; will spark the public&#39;s interest in contributing to our troops abroad and to their families here at home. This goodwill gesture embodies one of the main pillars in the Ram Truck Brand&#39;s DNA and demonstrates our continued support for the nation&#39;s men and women in the military&#44;&#34; said Diaz.</p>
<p>A 30&#45;second &#34;Letters for Lyrics&#34; teaser spot&#44; featuring the Ram Truck Brand and Zac Brown Band&#44; will debut during the Academy of Country Music Awards&#44; which airs live from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas&#44; Sunday&#44; April 18&#44; at 8 p. m. on the CBS Television Network.</p>
<p>
<strong>USO Tour Documentary and Song Download on RamTrucks.com</strong>
<br/>Viewers will be able to see behind&#45;the&#45;scene footage taped by the band as they document their April visit to U.S. soldiers stationed in the Persian Gulf. Documentary&#45;style segments and concert footage will premiere on RamTrucks.com and new episodes will be posted throughout the duration of the program.</p>
<p>An exclusive live version of the band&#39;s latest single&#44; &#34;Free&#44;&#34; will also be available for download for the first 100&#44;000 fans&#44; only at the RamTrucks.com web site. For each download&#44; the Ram Truck Brand will make a donation to a designated charity on behalf of the brand and Zac Brown Band.</p>
<p>&#34;The marketing and advertising launch for the Ram Heavy Duty is one of the most comprehensive programs developed for the Ram Truck Brand&#44;&#34; said Marissa Hunter&#44; Head of Ram Truck Communication&#44; Chrysler Group LLC. &#34;The partnership with Zac Brown Band is just one element of the marketing and advertising launch of the 2010 Ram Heavy Duty truck&#44; now available at Ram Truck dealerships nationwide.&#34;</p>
<p>
<strong>About the Zac Brown Band</strong>
<br/>Zac Brown Band were recently named GRAMMY&#39;s &#34;Best New Artist&#34; and are nominated for four Academy of Country Music Awards including &#34;Entertainer of the Year.&#34; The band&#39;s platinum&#45;certified&#44; major label debut &#39;The Foundation&#39; &#45; one of Billboard&#39;s Top 20 albums of 2009 &#45; is out now on Atlantic Records and features the band&#39;s first four #1 singles. Currently on the road with their &#34;Breaking Southern Ground&#34; national tour&#44; Zac Brown Band will also join the Dave Matthews Band to perform at select shows across the U.S. this summer including New York&#39;s Citi Field. Additional information can be found at http&#58;&#47;&#47;www.zacbrownband.com&#47;.</p>
<p>
<strong>About the Ram Truck Brand</strong>
<br/>With a work&#45;hard&#44; play&#45;hard attitude&#44; the Ram Truck brand offers the boldest&#44; most powerful and capable pickup truck lineup on the planet.</p>
<p>The Ram Truck brand will add to its award&#45;winning truck lineup with the introduction of its all&#45;new 2010 Ram 2500 and 3500 Heavy Duty trucks&#44; Motor Trend&#39;s Truck of the Year. The new heavy&#45;duty trucks provide customers with first&#45;time innovations and features along with new standards of strength&#44; utility and driveability&#44; building on the Ram&#39;s leadership in the heavy&#45;duty pickup segment.</p>
<p>Introduced in 2008&#44; the Ram 1500 is a game changer in terms of its ability to &#34;outsmart&#34; and &#34;out&#45;tough&#34; the competition with its bold exterior design&#44; crafted and refined interior&#44; engineering excellence&#44; superb innovation and best&#45;in&#45;class features and amenities. The Ram 1500 also ranks at the top of Strategic Vision Inc.&#39;s &#40;SVI&#41; 2009 Total Quality Index&#8482; &#40;TQI&#41; in the full&#45;size truck segment. According to the survey&#44; the Ram 1500 leads the way with the highest Total Quality score of any truck in the 15&#45;year history of the study. Customers specifically noted that the Ram has the best added storage capability along with the best truck interior ever rated by customers.</p>
<p>The Ram Truck brand will further enhance its commercial vehicle presence with the introduction of a &#34;new crew&#34; of commercial&#45;grade work trucks&#58; the new 2011 Ram 3500&#44; 4500 and 5500 Chassis Cabs. Led by an all&#45;new crew cab&#44; the new 2011 Ram Chassis Cabs are built on a proven frame and chassis&#44; and engineered for maximum uptime&#44; optimum performance and enhanced commercial capability.</p>]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">2010_4_16_ram_truck_zac_brown_partnership</guid><pubDate>April 16, 2010</pubDate><category>dodge_news dodge internal 2010 ram</category><source url="http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news">Chrysler Media Services LLC</source><dc:subject name="Dodge News" category="System Tag">dodge_news</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Dodge" category="System Tag">dodge</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Recent News From" category="System Tag">internal</dc:subject><dc:subject name="2010" category="System Tag">2010</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Ram" category="Dodge Vehicles">ram</dc:subject></item>
<item><title>County Music Fans Everywhere Have the Power to Vote for the 45th Academy of Country Music Awards Entertainer of the Year &#38; Top New Artist</title><link>http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news/articles/?guid=2010_4_1_fans_vote_acma_artist_entertainers_of_the_year</link><description><![CDATA[
<p>
<strong>Beginning Today&#44; Fans Can Log on to www.voteACM.com to Vote forEntertainer of the Year Among Nominees Kenny Chesney&#44; Toby Keith&#44;Brad Paisley&#44; George Strait&#44; Taylor Swift&#44; Carrie Underwood&#44; Keith Urbanand Zac Brown Band &#40;in a Vote Powered by the Ram Truck Brand&#41;&#44; and forTop New Artist Among Nominees Luke Bryan&#44; Gloriana and Joey &#43; Rory</strong>
</p>
<p>
<strong>The Winner of Top New Artist&#44; Keith&#44; Paisley&#44; Swift and Urban will all Perform in addition to the Previously Announced Entertainer of the Year&#8212;Nominated Performers Chesney and Underwood</strong>
</p>
<p>ENCINO&#44; CA &#40;April 1&#44; 2010&#41; &#8212; The Academy of Country Music announced that starting today&#44; April 1st&#44; anyone can vote for Entertainer of the Year and Top New Artist by logging on to <strong>www.voteACM.com</strong>.  The winner will be announced on the <strong>45th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards</strong>&#44; to be broadcast LIVE from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday&#44; April 18th&#44; 2010 at 8&#58;00 PM live ET&#47;delayed PT on the CBS Television Network.</p>
<p>Nominees <strong>Kenny Chesney&#44; Toby Keith&#44; Brad Paisley&#44; George Strait&#44; Taylor Swift&#44; Carrie Underwood&#44; Keith Urban and Zac Brown Band</strong> vie for Entertainer of the Year with fan voting powered by the Ram Truck Brand. Additionally&#44; for the first time&#44; fans can vote for Top New Artist from among nominees <strong>Luke Bryan&#44; Gloriana</strong> and <strong>Joey &#43; Rory</strong> &#40;who have already been named Top New Solo Vocalist&#44; Top New Vocal Group and Top New Vocal Duo&#44; respectively&#41;.  Fans can vote for Top New Artist through the start of the live broadcast and Entertainer of the Year into the third hour of the show.</p>
<p>Entertainer of the Year nominees Toby Keith&#44; Brad Paisley&#44; Taylor Swift and Keith Urban have been scheduled to perform in addition to the previously announced Entertainer of Year nominees Kenny Chesney and Carrie Underwood.  The winner of Top New Artist will also perform during the show.</p>
<p>
<strong>Entertainer of the Year Nominees&#58;</strong>
</p>
<p>Kenny Chesney is nominated for four awards&#44; including Entertainer of the Year and Top Male Vocalist. If he wins Entertainer of the Year&#44; it will be his fifth win in the category. He is currently one of only 3 acts in Academy history to achieve four wins for Entertainer of the Year. He is also nominated as an artist and producer for Vocal Event of the Year for &#34;I&#39;m Alive&#34; with multi&#45;platinum recording artist Dave Matthews.</p>
<p>
<strong>Toby Keith</strong> is nominated for Entertainer of the Year. He has previously won the category twice &#45; first in 2002 and then again the following year. Keith has won 10 ACM Awards&#44; including two wins for both Top Male Vocalist and Album of the Year.</p>
<p>
<strong>Brad Paisley</strong> is nominated for four awards&#44; including Entertainer of the Year and Top Male Vocalist. Paisley is the reigning Top Male Vocalist&#44; and&#44; if Paisley wins the category&#44; it will be his fourth consecutive Top Male Vocalist title. Paisley is also nominated for Album of the Year for American Saturday Night and for Video of the Year for &#34;Welcome to the Future.&#34; Paisley won the 2005 Album of the Year for Time Well Wasted.</p>
<p>
<strong>George Strait</strong> is nominated for Entertainer of the Year and Top Male Vocalist.  If Strait wins Entertainer of the Year&#44; it will be his second win in that category&#44; previously winning the award in 1989.  Last year&#44; Strait was named the Academy of Country Music&#39;s Artist of the Decade and was honored in a television special.  Strait is the most nominated artist in the history of the Academy of Country Music Awards with a total of 83 nominations&#44; which includes 20 wins.</p>
<p>
<strong>Taylor Swift</strong> is nominated for five awards&#44; including her first nod for Entertainer of the Year.  If Swift wins Entertainer of the Year&#44; she will be the eighth female in Academy history to win in this category. Swift is nominated as an artist and composer for Song of the Year for &#34;You Belong With Me&#44;&#34; for which she is also nominated for Video of the Year and she also received a nomination for Top Female Vocalist.  In 2009&#44; Swift made history as the Academy&#39;s youngest&#45;ever winner for Album of the Year where she was honored as both artist and producer for Fearless.  She was also honored last year with the ACM Crystal Milestone Award for career achievement.</p>
<p>
<strong>Carrie Underwood</strong> is nominated for six awards&#44; including Entertainer of Year. Underwood is the reigning Entertainer of the Year&#44; and&#44; if she wins that category again&#44; she will be the first female in Academy history to capture two Entertainer of the Year trophies.  Underwood is also nominated as an artist and composer for Song of the Year for &#34;Cowboy Casanova&#44;&#34; as well as Vocal Event of the Year for &#34;I Told You So&#34; with Randy Travis. In addition&#44; Underwood is nominated for Top Female Vocalist and Album of the Year for Play On. If she wins Top Female Vocalist&#44; it will be the fourth consecutive year she has won the category.  Underwood also won the 2006 Album of the Year for Some Hearts.</p>
<p>
<strong>Keith Urban</strong> is nominated for Entertainer of the Year and Top Male Vocalist.  Urban is a six&#45;time ACM award winner&#44; including Top Male Vocalist in 2004 and 2005&#44; Album of the Year in 2004 and Top New Male Vocalist in 2000.</p>
<p>
<strong>Zac Brown Band</strong> is nominated for four awards including Entertainer of the Year&#44; their first nomination in the category. If Zac Brown Band wins Entertainer of the Year&#44; they will be the third vocal group in Academy history ever to win the award. Zac Brown Band is also nominated for Album of the Year for The Foundation&#44; Single Record of the Year for &#34;Toes&#44;&#34; and Top Vocal Group. They are the reigning Top New Vocal Group.</p>
<p>
<strong>Zac Brown</strong> of Zac Brown Band also received two additional individual nominations as the producer for both Album of the Year for The Foundation and Single Record of the Year for &#34;Toes.&#34;</p>
<p>
<strong>Top New Artist Nominees&#58;</strong>
</p>
<p>
<strong>Luke Bryan&#44; Gloriana</strong> and <strong>Joey &#43; Rory</strong> were previously chosen by country fans at GACTV.com as winners of the ACM New Artist Awards&#44; announced on March 16&#44; 2010. The three winners are now nominees for the Top New Artist award.</p>
<p>Top New Solo Vocalist winner <strong>Luke Bryan</strong> released his sophomore album&#44; Doin&#39; My Thing&#44; on Capitol Records Nashville in October 2009&#44; debuting at #2 on the Billboard Country Albums chart. The CD includes his #1 gold single &#34;Do I&#34; and new smash hit &#34;Rain Is A Good Thing.&#34; Bryan is currently headlining his own dates as well as opening for Jason Aldean on the &#34;Wide Open Tour&#34; and will be a featured act on Miranda Lambert&#39;s upcoming spring tour. This is Bryan&#39;s first win for an Academy of Country Music Award.</p>
<p>Top New Vocal Group winner <strong>Gloriana&#39;s</strong> self&#45;titled album debuted at #2 on the Billboard Country Album Chart and #3 on Billboard&#39;s Top 200 and was the best selling debut by a country group in 2009. It includes hit singles &#34;Wild At Heart&#44;&#34; &#34;How Far Do You Wanna Go&#63;&#34; and their current single &#34;The World Is Ours Tonight&#34;. The group&#44; who won the fan&#45;voted Breakthrough Artist Award at the American Music Awards&#44; is currently on tour with Taylor Swift. Gloriana is a four&#45;member vocal group featuring brothers Tom and Mike Gossin along with Rachel Reinert and Cheyenne Kimball. This is Gloriana&#39;s first nomination and first win for an Academy of Country Music Award.</p>
<p>Winner of Top New Vocal Duo&#44; <strong>Joey &#43; Rory&#44;</strong> have a huge year ahead of them. They already have started on a U.S. arena tour and will release their sophomore album simply titled Album #2 <strong>in the summer</strong>. Husband and wife duo Joey &#43; Rory started performing as a duo for the audition of the CMT series&#44; &#34;Can You Duet&#44;&#34; in early 2008. This is their first win for an Academy of Country Music Award.</p>
<p>
<strong>About the Academy of Country Music Awards</strong>
<br/>The 45th Academy of Country Music Awards is dedicated to honoring and showcasing the biggest names and emerging talent in the country music industry.  The show is produced for television by dick clark productions and will be broadcast LIVE from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas Sunday&#44; April 18&#44; 2010 at 8&#58;00 PM live ET&#47;delayed PT on the CBS Television Network.  Orly Adelson and R.A. Clark are executive producers.  Barry Adelman is producer&#44; and Bob Bardo is the executive in charge of production. Bob Romeo is executive producer for the Academy of Country Music. For more information&#44; please visit www.acmcountry.com.</p>]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">2010_4_1_fans_vote_acma_artist_entertainers_of_the_year</guid><pubDate>April 1, 2010</pubDate><category>dodge_news dodge internal 2010 awards</category><source url="http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news">Chrysler Media Services LLC</source><dc:subject name="Dodge News" category="System Tag">dodge_news</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Dodge" category="System Tag">dodge</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Recent News From" category="System Tag">internal</dc:subject><dc:subject name="2010" category="System Tag">2010</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Awards" category="Automotive">awards</dc:subject></item>
<item><title>Mopar&#174; Gives Hemi&#174;-powered Dodge Challenger Buyers Powerful Boost to Customize Their Rides</title><link>http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news/articles/?guid=2010_3_11_mopar_bucks_challenger_buyers</link><description><![CDATA[
<p>&#36;2&#44;000 in &#34;Mopar Bucks&#34; Good Toward the Purchase of Select Mopar&#174; Performance Parts&#44; Accessories or Customer&#45;care Packages</p>
<ul>
<li>Customer may use &#34;Mopar Bucks&#34; to buy Dodge Challenger&#39;s new factory&#45;installed Mopar Appearance Packages&#44; which include the unique body&#45;color T&#47;A hood with scoop&#44; body&#45;color rear &#34;Go&#45;Wing&#34; spoiler&#44; strobe&#45;stripe performance graphics&#44; T&#45;shifter handle and more</li>
<li>Other available Mopar quality&#45;tested Dodge Challenger performance parts include coil&#45;over suspension kits&#44; cat&#45;back dual&#45;exhaust systems and performance shifter kits</li>
<li>Exclusive Dodge Challenger Customer&#45;care Packages offer 3&#45;year&#47;36&#44;000&#45;mile comprehensive coverage&#44; including lube and oil filter changes&#44; scheduled and recommended maintenance&#44; towing and roadside assistance&#44; car rental allowance and &#36;1&#44;000 trip&#45;interruption coverage</li>
<li>Offer good through April 30&#44; 2010&#44; for the retail purchase of every brand&#45;new 2010 Dodge Challenger R&#47;T&#44; R&#47;T Classic or SRT8&#174; model</li>
</ul>
<p>Auburn Hills&#44; Mich.&#44; Mar 11&#44; 2010  &#45;  Expanding the collaboration between two legendary performance brands&#44; Mopar&#174; is offering customers &#36;2&#44;000 in &#34;Mopar Bucks&#44;&#34; which they may use to buy select performance parts&#44; service contracts and accessories when they purchase a new 2010 Dodge Challenger R&#47;T&#44; R&#47;T Classic or SRT8&#174; muscle car.</p>
<p>&#34;Dodge Challenger is one of our most accessorized vehicles&#44;&#34; said Pietro Gorlier&#44; President and Chief Executive Officer &#8212; Mopar Service&#44; Parts and Customer Care&#44; Chrysler Group LLC. &#34;With this program&#44; Mopar and Dodge are putting &#36;2&#44;000 in our customers&#39; pockets and giving them the chance to accessorize their vehicle. The &#96;Mopar Bucks&#39; program is a great example of how Mopar can add value to our brands and the customer ownership experience.&#34;</p>
<p>In addition to the 2010 Dodge Challenger R&#47;T&#44; R&#47;T Classic and SRT8&#39;s modern muscle&#45;car characteristics &#8212; unmistakable design&#44; world&#45;class handling&#44; powerful HEMI&#174; V&#45;8 engines and innovative technology &#8212; Mopar offers a complete lineup of performance parts&#44; service parts and accessories to get every Dodge Challenger enthusiast revved up.</p>
<p>Just in time for springtime cruising&#44; new 2010 Dodge Challenger customers may use their &#36;2&#44;000 &#34;Mopar Bucks&#34; toward several of the following popular Mopar performance parts&#44; accessories and services&#58;</p>
<p>
<strong>Mopar&#39;s Appearance Packages for the Dodge Challenger</strong>
<br/>Mopar&#39;s new exterior appearance package is now available as a factory production option. The exterior package includes a unique body&#45;color hood with scoop&#44; body&#45;color rear &#34;Go&#45;Wing&#34; spoiler and strobe stripe performance graphics.</p>
<p>An interior appearance package also is available and includes a Mopar&#45;branded T&#45;handle shifter&#44; bright pedal kit &#40;automatic only&#41;&#44; bright door&#45;sill guards&#44; premium carpet floor mats and a full&#45;vehicle cover to protect this prized possession.</p>
<p>&#34;One of the joys of owning the iconic Dodge Challenger muscle car is the ability to take an already head&#45;turning design and create a highly customized and personalized ride&#44; thanks to Mopar&#39;s exclusive collection of quality&#45;tested performance parts and accessories&#44;&#34; said Ralph Gilles&#44; President and Chief Executive Officer&#44; Dodge Car Brand and Senior Vice President &#8212; Product Design&#44; Chrysler Group LLC. &#34;Dodge Car Brand designers and engineers worked closely with the legendary in&#45;house Mopar performance brand to further enhance the appearance of Dodge&#39;s modern&#45;day muscle machine&#44; while effectively communicating the vehicle&#39;s world&#45;class handling&#44; performance and cutting&#45;edge technology.&#34;</p>
<p>The Manufacturer&#39;s Suggested Retail Price &#40;MSRP&#41; for the exterior package is &#36;1&#44;995. The MSRP for the interior package is &#36;945 for the automatic transmission and &#36;780 for the manual transmission. Both options are available on R&#47;T models in the following colors&#58; TorRed&#44; Bright Silver Metallic&#44; Brilliant Black Crystal and Bright White.</p>
<p>
<strong>Quality&#45;proven Dodge Challenger Performance Parts and Accessories</strong>
<br/>Customers also may choose from a variety of performance parts and accessories. Unlike any other automotive aftermarket company&#44; Mopar parts and accessories are specifically designed&#44; engineered and quality&#45;tested to further enhance the appearance and performance of Dodge Challenger. Performance accessories include rear deck&#45;lid spoiler &#40;MSRP &#36;316&#41;&#44; decal kits &#40;MSRP starting at &#36;182&#41;&#44; cat&#45;back exhaust systems &#40;MSRP starting at &#36;1&#44;190&#41;&#44; classic Mopar T&#47;A hood &#40;MSRP &#36;1&#44;275&#41; and more.</p>
<p>All&#45;inclusive benefits with Mopar&#39;s Dodge Challenger Customer&#45;care PackagesProviding customers&#39; peace of mind at an affordable price&#44; the exclusive Dodge Challenger Customer&#45;care Packages include scheduled and recommended maintenance&#44; lube and oil filter changes&#44; towing and roadside assistance&#44; car rental allowance and &#36;1&#44;000 trip&#45;interruption coverage for 3 years or 36&#44;000 miles. MSRP for the Dodge Challenger R&#47;T and R&#47;T Classic Customer&#45;care Package is &#36;825&#44; and high&#45;performance Challenger SRT8 Customer&#45;care Package &#36;1&#44;005.</p>
<p>
<strong>Mopar Brand</strong>
<br/>Mopar distributes approximately 280&#44;000 parts and accessories in more than 90 countries and is the source for all original&#45;equipment parts for Chrysler&#44; Jeep&#44; Dodge Car and Ram vehicles. Mopar parts are unique in that they are engineered with the same teams that create factory&#45;authorized vehicle specifications for Chrysler&#44; Jeep&#44; Dodge Car and Ram vehicles &#8212; a direct connection that no other aftermarket parts company can provide. A complete list of Mopar accessories and performance parts is available at www.mopar.com</p>
<p>
<strong>More than 70 Years of Mopar</strong>
<br/>When Chrysler bought Dodge in 1928&#44; the need for a dedicated parts manufacturer&#44; supplier and distribution system to support the growing enterprise led to the formation of the Chrysler Motor Parts Corporation &#40;CMPC&#41; in 1929.</p>
<p>Mopar &#40;a simple contraction of the words Motor and PARts&#41; was trademarked for a line of antifreeze products in 1937. It also was widely used as a moniker for the CMPC. The Mopar brand made its mark in the 1960s &#8212; the muscle&#45;car era. The Chrysler Corporation built race&#45;ready Dodge and Plymouth &#34;package cars&#34; equipped with special high&#45;performance parts. Mopar carried a line of &#34;special parts&#34; for super stock drag racers and developed its racing parts division called Mopar Performance Parts to enhance speed and handling for both road and racing use.</p>
<p>
<strong>About the 2010 Dodge Challenger</strong>
<br/>The 2010 Dodge Challenger merges the best American muscle&#45;car characteristics &#8212; unmistakable design&#44; world&#45;class handling&#44; powerful engines and technology &#8212; to delight driving enthusiasts across several generations. The Dodge Challenger is produced on the company&#39;s proven rear&#45;wheel&#45;drive platform to accommodate five passengers with best&#45;in&#45;class rear head and leg room&#44; along with best&#45;in&#45;class cargo space equal to the Dodge Charger.</p>
<p>With three models of head&#45;turning styling&#44; two legendary HEMI V&#45;8 engine choices&#44; up to 25 EPA estimated highway miles per gallon&#44; more than 25 safety and security features and modern amenities&#44; including Media Center&#8482; 730N with voice&#45;activated navigation system and real&#45;time traffic available&#44; it&#39;s no surprise Dodge Challenger was awarded J.D. Power and Associates &#34;Most Appealing Midsize Sporty Car&#34; in its 2009 APEAL Study.</p>
<p>
<strong>About Dodge</strong>
<br/>Dodge is a full line of cars&#44; SUVs and MPVs that are agile&#44; daring&#44; sensible and inventive. The product line includes the Dodge Caliber&#44; Dodge Avenger&#44; Dodge Challenger&#44; Dodge Charger&#44; Dodge Grand Caravan&#44; Dodge Journey&#44; Dodge Nitro and Dodge Viper SRT10.</p>
<p>Dodge introduced two new vehicles for the 2009 model year&#58; the all&#45;new 2009 Dodge Journey&#44; the brand&#39;s first crossover vehicle and the 2009 Dodge Challenger&#44; a modern&#45;day American muscle car. Dodge also celebrated the 25th anniversary of the minivan during the 2009 model year. With more than 65 minivan&#45;firsts introduced since 1983 and more than 12 million Dodge and Chrysler minivans sold&#44; Chrysler Group LLC has solidified its leadership in the segment. J.D. Power and Associates further acknowledged this leadership by naming the Dodge Grand Caravan the Most Dependable Van for 2009. The 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan continues to set the mark in the minivan segment with an EPA estimated unsurpassed fuel economy of 17 city &#47; 25 highway mpg and minivan&#45;first innovations including the segment&#39;s only Stow &#8216;n Go&#174; and Swivel &#8216;n Go&#174; seating and storage systems. The 2010 Dodge Avenger&#44; with ESC&#44; also earned the 2009 Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS.</p>]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">2010_3_11_mopar_bucks_challenger_buyers</guid><pubDate>March 11, 2010</pubDate><category>dodge_news dodge internal 2010 challenger</category><source url="http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news">Chrysler Media Services LLC</source><dc:subject name="Dodge News" category="System Tag">dodge_news</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Dodge" category="System Tag">dodge</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Recent News From" category="System Tag">internal</dc:subject><dc:subject name="2010" category="System Tag">2010</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Challenger" category="Dodge Vehicles">challenger</dc:subject></item>
<item><title>2010 Ram 1500 Wins "Winter Vehicle Award for Best in Class Pickup Truck" by New England Motor Press Association</title><link>http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news/articles/?guid=2010_3_10_dodge_ram1500_winter_vehicle_award</link><description><![CDATA[
<p>The 2010 Ram 1500 continued its winning streak&#44; bringing home yet another award in the highly competitive pickup truck segment&#44; receiving the New England Motor Press Association&#39;s &#40;NEMPA&#41; 2010 Winter Vehicle Award &#8212; Best&#45;In&#45;Class Pickup for the second year in a row. The 2010 Ram has won more than 20 awards since its introduction.</p>
<p>&#34;The Ram 1500 stood head and shoulders above the competition due to its superb multi&#45;link coil spring suspension&#44;&#34; said John Paul&#44; Winter Vehicle Team Coordinator. &#34;Its creative use of interior storage space and the unique segment busting Rambox cargo storage made it an easy choice for Best in Class Pick&#45;up Truck.&#34;</p>
<p>In February&#44; more than 50 members of the NEMPA gathered for their annual Winter Vehicle voting day. Vehicles were chosen based on how they met specific needs of New England drivers during winter.</p>
<p>The New England Motor Press Association is unique among regional motor press groups. Its media members represent all six New England states&#44; reaching one of the largest populations in America. These automotive writers and talk show hosts influence consumers who are in the market to buy cars and trucks in order to cope with the region&#39;s punishing weather conditions.</p>
<p>
<strong>About the 2010 Ram</strong>
<br/>The 2010 Ram includes the industry first&#45;and&#45;only RamBox&#8482; cargo management system that includes versatile&#44; weatherproof&#44; lockable&#44; illuminated&#44; drainable storage bins; pickup bed dividers; a two&#45;foot bed extender and a cargo rail system with sliding adjustable cleats. The 2010 Ram also includes the first&#45;in&#45;segment coil&#45;spring five&#45;link rear suspension fitted to a solid rear axle providing ride and handling not found on any other pickup truck. A 5.7&#45;liter HEMI&#174; V&#45;8 engine with fuel&#45;saving MDS technology provides more horsepower &#40;390 hp&#41; and torque &#40;407 lb.&#45;ft.&#41; while its best&#45;in&#45;class aerodynamics &#40;.387 Cd&#41; improve fuel economy and performance.</p>
<p>In addition&#44; the 2010 Ram 1500 includes a first&#45;in&#45;segment&#44; factory&#45;installed four&#45;inch dual exhaust styled dramatically into the rear bumper&#44; first&#45;in&#45;segment store&#45;in&#45;the&#45;floor storage bins&#44; twice as many storage spots than the previous model and 35 safety and security technologies. Standard features include side&#45;curtain air bags and Electronic Stability Control &#40;ESC&#41; which includes all&#45;speed traction control&#44; trailer sway control&#44; hill&#45;start assist and anti&#45;lock brake system &#40;ABS&#41;. Significantly upgraded interiors with a segment&#45;first surround&#45;sound audio system and a variety of available infotainment features round out the inside.</p>
<p>The 2010 Ram 1500 Crew Cab earned Five Star ratings for driver&#45; and front&#45;passenger protection in a frontal crash&#44; the highest ratings in the U.S. government&#39;s safety crash test program.</p>
<p>With a work&#45;hard&#44; play&#45;hard attitude&#44; the Ram Truck Brand continues to offer a full line of trucks and commercial vehicles.</p>
<p>
<strong>About NEMPA</strong>
<br/>NEMPA members work for a range of national publications including The Robb Report&#44; Esquire&#44; Hemmings magazine&#44; and Automobile Magazine. They are also represented at some of the leading newspapers in the country including the New York Times&#44; The Boston Globe&#44; The Hartford Courant&#44; The Boston Herald and the Christian Science Monitor. In addition&#44; NEMPA members are syndicated through King Features Syndicate and other national outlets.</p>
<p>Members may also be heard on National Public Radio&#39;s Car Talk as well as radio stations throughout New England including WTIC&#45;AM &#40;Hartford&#41; and WPRO &#40;Providence&#41; and many points in between.</p>
<p>The New England Motor Press Association reaches more than 6 million readers&#47;listeners through member journalists in the traditional New England States and many millions more across the nation.</p>]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">2010_3_10_dodge_ram1500_winter_vehicle_award</guid><pubDate>March 10, 2010</pubDate><category>dodge_news dodge internal 2010 ram awards</category><source url="http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news">Chrysler Media Services LLC</source><dc:subject name="Dodge News" category="System Tag">dodge_news</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Dodge" category="System Tag">dodge</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Recent News From" category="System Tag">internal</dc:subject><dc:subject name="2010" category="System Tag">2010</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Ram" category="Dodge Vehicles">ram</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Awards" category="Automotive">awards</dc:subject></item>
<item><title>Mossy Oak&#174; and Hall Brothers Racing Announce a New Paint Scheme for Rammunition</title><link>http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news/articles/?guid=2010_3_05_rammunition_new_paint_scheme</link><description><![CDATA[
<p>Monster Truck Will Feature All&#45;New Break&#45;Up&#174; Infinity&#8482;</p>
<p>West Point&#44; Miss.&#44; Mar 5&#44; 2010  &#45;</p>
<p>Mossy Oak&#44; in a partnership with Ram Trucks and Hall Brothers Racing&#44; is pleased to announce that the new 2010 paint scheme for the Rammunition monster truck will include Mossy Oak&#39;s newest pattern Break&#45;Up Infinity. Rammunition is part of the Monster Truck Racing Association &#40;MTRA&#41;&#44; which is made up of many of the top monster truck teams in the industry.</p>
<p>&#34;We&#39;re fired up about Ram Trucks and Hall Brothers Racing decorating the Rammunition truck with our new pattern Break&#45;Up Infinity&#44;&#34; said Ronnie &#34;Cuz&#34; Strickland. &#34;When these guys say they&#39;ll help us &#39;launch&#39; a pattern they mean for&#45;real launch. Like 20 feet over a school bus launch. We can&#39;t wait to see the new Rammunition this year.&#34;</p>
<p>Tim Hall from Hall Brothers Racing said&#44; &#34;We are excited to get to work with the folks from Mossy Oak on our new Rammunition monster truck. Mossy Oak and Ram Trucks are both the best in their fields&#44; and we are proud to be associated with the best!&#34;</p>
<p>Driver Geremie Dishman added&#44; &#34;As an avid sportsman&#44; I know Mossy Oak is top of the line in the field. I can&#39;t wait until the fans get to see our all new Mossy Oak camo Rammunition. It is really cool!&#34;</p>
<p>Look for the newly decorated Rammunition Monster truck at the events listed below and visit their website &#40;www.raminator.com&#41; for updates.</p>
<p>Rammunition schedule&#58;</p>
<p>March 27 Enid&#44; OK Chisholm Trail Expo<br/>May 1&#45;2 Springfield&#44; MO 4&#45;Wheel Jamboree<br/>May 14&#45;16 Lima&#44; OH 4&#45;Wheel Jamboree<br/>July 9&#45;11 Bloomsburg&#44; PA 4&#45;Wheel Jamboree<br/>July TBA Bristol&#44; TN Monster Truck Challenge<br/>August TBA Essex Junction&#44; VT 4&#45;Wheel Jamboree<br/>August TBA Charlotte&#44; NC Monster Truck Challenge<br/>August 21&#45;29 Rochester&#44; MN 4&#45;Wheel Jamboree<br/>September 17&#45;19 Indianapolis&#44; IN 4&#45;Wheel Jamboree</p>
<p>For more information on Rammunition and Halls Brothers Racing&#44; log on to www.raminator.com. For more information on Mossy Oak and Break&#45;Up Infinity&#44; log on to www.mossyoak.com.</p>
<p>
<strong>About Ram Trucks</strong>
</p>
<p>With a work&#45;hard&#44; play&#45;hard attitude&#44; the Ram Truck brand offers the boldest&#44; most powerful and capable pickup truck lineup on the planet.</p>
<p>The Ram Truck brand will add to its award&#45;winning truck lineup with the introduction of it all&#45;new 2010 Ram 2500 and 3500 Heavy Duty trucks&#44; Motor Trend&#39;s Truck of the Year. The new heavy&#45;duty trucks provide customers with first&#45;time innovations and features along with new standards of strength&#44; utility and driveability&#44; building on the Ram&#39;s leadership in the heavy&#45;duty pickup segment.</p>
<p>Introduced in 2008&#44; the Ram 1500 is a game changer in terms of its ability to &#34;outsmart&#34; and &#34;out&#45;tough&#34; the competition with its bold exterior design&#44; crafted and refined interior&#44; engineering excellence&#44; superb innovation and best&#45;in&#45;class features and amenities. The Ram 1500 also ranks at the top of Strategic Vision Inc.&#39;s &#40;SVI&#41; 2009 Total Quality Index&#8482; &#40;TQI&#41; in the full&#45;size truck segment. According to the survey&#44; the Ram 1500 leads the way with the highest Total Quality score of any truck in the 15&#45;year history of the study. Customers specifically noted that the Ram has the best added storage capability along with the best truck interior ever rated by customers.</p>
<p>The Ram Truck brand will further enhance its commercial vehicle presence with the introduction of a &#34;new crew&#34; of commercial&#45;grade work trucks&#58; the new 2011 Ram 3500&#44; 4500 and 5500 Chassis Cabs. Led by an all&#45;new crew cab&#44; the new 2011 Ram Chassis Cabs are built on a proven frame and chassis&#44; and engineered for maximum uptime&#44; optimum performance and enhanced commercial capability.</p>]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">2010_3_05_rammunition_new_paint_scheme</guid><pubDate>March 5, 2010</pubDate><category>dodge_news dodge internal 2010 trucks ram</category><source url="http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news">Chrysler Media Services LLC</source><dc:subject name="Dodge News" category="System Tag">dodge_news</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Dodge" category="System Tag">dodge</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Recent News From" category="System Tag">internal</dc:subject><dc:subject name="2010" category="System Tag">2010</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Trucks" category="Automotive">trucks</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Ram" category="Dodge Vehicles">ram</dc:subject></item>
<item><title>Dodge: The Full-of-Life Brand</title><link>http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news/articles/?guid=2010_3_02_dodge_full_of_life_brand</link><description><![CDATA[
<p>Geneva&#44; Mar 2&#44; 2010  &#45;  The Dodge Car Brand continues to offer customers around the world driving excitement&#44; functionality and aggressive styling.</p>
<p>&#34;The focus of the Dodge Car Brand is creating an all&#45;new spirit and life built around strong American heritage in products that provide performance and personality&#44;&#34; said Ralph Gilles&#44; President and CEO &#8212; Dodge Car Brand and Senior Vice President &#8212; Product Design&#44; Chrysler Group LLC. &#34;The Dodge Charger SRT8 and Challenger SRT8 command attention by offering benchmark&#44; all&#45;around performance that appeals to unique customers who celebrate their achievements by living life to the fullest.&#34;</p>
<p>At the 80th Geneva International Motor Show&#44; the Dodge Car Brand showcases two iconic models &#8212; Dodge Charger SRT8&#174; and Dodge Challenger SRT8 &#8212; both of which deliver the best of modern American muscle&#45;car characteristics&#58; unmistakable design&#44; world&#45;class handling&#44; powerful engines and proven technology.</p>
<p>In 2009&#44; the Dodge brand comprised nearly 35 percent of Chrysler Group LLC sales in markets outside North America&#44; led by Dodge Journey as the highest sales volume vehicle and Dodge Caliber also as a top&#45;five sales contender.</p>
<p>As the Chrysler Group product portfolio develops in markets outside North America&#44; Dodge will become a specialty brand with a focus on regional sales for specific models.</p>
<p>Chrysler Group LLC sells and services vehicles in more than 120 countries around the world.</p>
<p>
<strong>Dodge Product Highlights</strong>
<br/>Two high&#45;performance&#44; North American Dodge products from the Street and Racing Technology &#40;SRT&#41; group of Chrysler Group LLC are making their way to the 80th Geneva International Motor Show.</p>
<p>Developed under the credo &#34;Race inspired&#44; street legal&#44;&#34; the 2010 Dodge Charger SRT8 and 2010 Dodge Challenger SRT8 are powered by the 6.1&#45;liter HEMI&#174; V&#45;8 engine that produces 317 kW &#40;425 bhp&#41; and 569 N&#8901;m &#40;420 lb.&#45;ft.&#41; of torque &#8212; the highest naturally aspirated&#44; specific&#45;output V&#45;8 engine ever offered by Chrysler Group LLC.</p>
<p>
<strong>Dodge Charger SRT8&#58; Quickest Sedan in the Dodge Lineup</strong>
<br/>The Dodge Charger SRT8 packs all of the features and amenities expected of a family sedan and combines it with benchmark performance.</p>
<p>Dodge Charger SRT8 thrills with acceleration from 0&#45;100 km&#47;h in the low 5&#45;second range&#44; world&#45;class ride and handling&#44; benchmark braking that produces 100&#45;km&#47;h stops in approximately 33 m&#44; and 0.89 g on the skid pad. In addition&#44; the Charger SRT8 accomplishes the SRT vehicle&#39;s signature performance test of 0&#45;160&#45;0 km&#47;h in less than 17 seconds.</p>
<p>SRT&#45;inspired interior appointments are reflected on the latest Dodge Charger. The vehicle features Dark Slate Gray seats accented with Agate&#45;color stitching. The SRT logo is embroidered on the driver&#45; and passenger&#45;seat inserts. The door handles and steering wheel feature a carbon&#45;fiber&#45;like leather trim. LED lighting in the front cup holders and front&#45; and rear&#45;door map pockets complement the interior compartment.</p>
<p>Befitting its high&#45;performance character&#44; the Dodge Charger SRT8 continues to provide power&#45;adjustable&#44; deeply sculpted and highly bolstered front sport seats&#44; fitted with performance suede inserts&#44; and designed to hold occupants firmly while maneuvering. Rear seats have matching performance suede inserts.</p>
<p>Full instrumentation includes a 300 km&#47;h speedometer&#44; tachometer and a coolant temperature gauge. An LED display within the gauge cluster is driver configurable for oil&#45;temperature&#44; oil&#45;pressure and tire&#45;pressure readouts. The available SRT&#45;exclusive Electronic Vehicle Information Center &#40;EVIC&#41; with Performance Pages provides drivers with instant feedback on 0&#45;100 km&#47;h time&#44; 100&#45;0 km&#47;h braking and G&#45;force readout.</p>
<p>
<strong>Dodge Challenger SRT8&#58; True to Both its Historical and Modern Concept Car Roots</strong>
<br/>The Dodge Challenger made a triumphant return in 2008 after a 35&#45;year absence of the iconic muscle car. The ultimate modern American muscle coupe is packed with modern amenities and features all enthusiasts will love.</p>
<p>Exterior styling cues are unmistakably Dodge&#44; with proportions that evoke a bold&#44; instantly recognizable vehicle that has a wide&#44; stable stance on the road. A full&#45;width grille and fog lamps&#44; reminiscent of the original Challenger&#44; are married to the modern &#34;Dodge performance attitude.&#34; The result is an aggressive face that is unmistakably a muscle car. The hood&#44; with a raised center&#44; black stripes and functional dual scoops&#44; stays true to the Dodge Challenger heritage&#44; as does the A&#45;line and beltline.</p>
<p>The latest Dodge Challenger SRT8 is available with either a standard five&#45;speed automatic with Auto Stick or an available Tremec TR&#45;6060 six&#45;speed manual transmission that was first offered on the 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10&#174;. A classic pistol&#45;grip shifter featured on the manual transmission is reminiscent of the original Challenger.</p>
<p>On the road&#44; the Dodge Challenger SRT8&#39;s impressive performance comes to life with acceleration from 0&#45;100 km&#47;h in the low 5&#45;second range&#44; 0&#45;160&#45;0 km&#47;h in under 17 seconds and braking from 100&#45;0 km&#47;h in approximately 33 m.</p>
<p>Interior highlights include race&#45;inspired leather seats with added bolstering&#44; exclusive red accent stripe&#44; and stitched accents on the seats and steering wheel. Instrumentation includes a four&#45;bomb gauge with tachometer and 300 km&#47;h speedometer in the center&#44; as well as the SRT&#45;exclusive EVIC with Performance Pages that provides drivers with instant feedback on 0&#45;100 km&#47;h time&#44; 100&#45;0 km&#47;h braking time and G&#45;force readout.</p>
<p>
<strong>SRT Equals All&#45;around Performance</strong>
<br/>Chrysler Group LLC&#39;s SRT team develops low&#45;volume&#44; high&#45;performance vehicles within the Chrysler&#44; Dodge and Jeep&#174; lineups. All SRT vehicles share five basic traits&#44; including functional exterior styling that resonates with the brand&#44; race&#45;inspired interiors&#44; world&#45;class ride and handling characteristics&#44; benchmark braking and standout high&#45;performance powertrains that appeal to different types of customers.</p>
<p>The 2010 SRT vehicle lineup includes the Dodge Challenger SRT8&#44; Dodge Charger SRT8&#44; Dodge Viper SRT10&#44; Chrysler 300C SRT8 and Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8.</p>
<p>
<strong>About Dodge Brand</strong>
<br/>Dodge is a full line of cars&#44; SUVs and MPVs that are agile&#44; daring&#44; sensible and inventive. The product line includes the Dodge Caliber&#44; Dodge Avenger&#44; Dodge Challenger&#44; Dodge Charger&#44; Dodge Grand Caravan&#44; Dodge Journey&#44; Dodge Nitro and Dodge Viper SRT10.</p>
<p>Dodge introduced two new vehicles for the 2009 model year&#58; the all&#45;new 2009 Dodge Journey&#44; the brand&#39;s first crossover vehicle and the 2009 Dodge Challenger&#44; a modern&#45;day American muscle car. Dodge also celebrated the 25th anniversary of the minivan during the 2009 model year. With more than 65 minivan&#45;firsts introduced since 1983 and more than 12 million Dodge and Chrysler minivans sold&#44; Chrysler Group LLC has solidified its leadership in the segment. J.D. Power and Associates further acknowledged this leadership by naming the Dodge Grand Caravan the Most Dependable Van for 2009. The 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan continues to set the mark in the minivan segment with unsurpassed fuel economy of 17 city &#47; 25 highway mpg and minivan&#45;first innovations including the segment&#39;s only Stow &#8216;n Go&#174; and Swivel &#8216;n Go&#174; seating and storage systems. The 2010 Dodge Journey and 2010 Dodge Avenger &#40;with ESC&#41; also earned the 2009 Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS.</p>]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">2010_3_02_dodge_full_of_life_brand</guid><pubDate>March 2, 2010</pubDate><category>dodge_news dodge internal 2010 challenger charger srt</category><source url="http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news">Chrysler Media Services LLC</source><dc:subject name="Dodge News" category="System Tag">dodge_news</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Dodge" category="System Tag">dodge</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Recent News From" category="System Tag">internal</dc:subject><dc:subject name="2010" category="System Tag">2010</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Challenger" category="Dodge Vehicles">challenger</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Charger" category="Dodge Vehicles">charger</dc:subject><dc:subject name="SRT" category="Automotive">srt</dc:subject></item>
<item><title>Ram Truck Brand Introduces Sportsmen to the new Ram 2500 and 3500 Heavy Duty Pickups</title><link>http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news/articles/?guid=2010_3_01_ram_2500_3500_pickups</link><description><![CDATA[
<p>Auburn Hills&#44; Mich.&#44; Mar 1&#44; 2010  &#45;</p>
<p>The Ram Truck Brand today announced a 26&#45;state&#44; 50&#45;venue Master Sportsman&#39;s Tour that&#39;s expected to give more than a million hunters and fishermen an up&#45;close look at the all&#45;new&#44; redesigned 2010 Ram Heavy Duty pickup.</p>
<p>The Ram Truck Brand in cooperation with dealers in regions with a heavy concentration of hunting&#44; fishing and boating participants will be setting up camp at many of America&#39;s top outdoors expositions and showing off their trophy&#45;winning Ram 2500 and 3500 Heavy Duty pickup trucks.</p>
<p>&#34;It&#39;s a fact that pickup truck owners &#8212; especially Ram Heavy Duty pickup truck owners &#8212; enjoy hunting&#44; fishing and boating&#44;&#34; said Fred Diaz&#44; President and CEO &#45; Ram Truck Brand&#44; Chrysler Group LLC. &#34;This tour gives our dealers &#8212; who&#44; like me&#44; enjoy these outdoor sports &#8212; a chance to talk with fellow sportsmen and meet tens of thousands of potential local customers at one time.&#34;</p>
<p>Ram Heavy Duty Truck owners are divided evenly into two groups&#58; those that purchased their truck for work &#40;vocational&#41; and those that purchased their truck for recreational use. However&#44; among those that purchased their truck for work&#44; nearly 100 percent use their truck for recreation&#44; as well.</p>
<p>Ram HD owner demographics illustrate a passion for the outdoors&#58; 36 percent own power boats; 47 percent hunt; 57 percent fresh water fish; and 33 percent salt water fish. Amazingly&#44; 58 percent of Ram HD owners own more than one trailer&#44; accounting for the 37 percent of Ram HD owners that own boat trailers and the 37 percent who tow camping trailers.</p>
<p>Ram Heavy Duty trucks are ideally suited for sportsmens&#39; needs&#44; boasting legendary durability&#44; and offering new features and refinements that stand out from the crowd. Features that include more than 40 storage spaces including hidden&#44; in&#45;floor bins&#44; integrated brake controller and exhaust brake standard with diesel powertrains. And refinements like soft&#45;touch interior surfaces and easy&#45;riding passenger cab hydro mounts.</p>
<p>Ram Heavy Duty trucks also feature the two most well&#45;known powertrains in the business&#44; including the legendary 5.7&#45;liter HEMI with variable valve timing and the powerful&#44; yet durable 6.7&#45;liter Cummins Turbo Diesel.</p>
<p>The Ram Truck Brand launched the new 2500 and 3500 Heavy Duty pickups late in 2009 as 2010 model year trucks&#44; and already they&#39;re earning awards.</p>
<p>Building on the success of their award&#45;winning sibling the Ram 1500&#44; the Ram 2500 and 3500 Heavy Duty have won Motor Trend&#39;s &#34;2010 Truck of the Year&#44;&#34; Four Wheeler magazine&#39;s Pickup Truck of the Year and Most Influential 4x4s of the Decade &#40;2005&#45;2010 Ram Power Wagon&#41;&#44; MotorWeek&#39;s Driver&#39;s Choice Award Pickup Truck of the Year and the Texas Auto Writers &#40;TAWA&#41; &#34;Heavy Duty Pickup Truck of Texas.&#34;</p>
<p>
<strong>About the Ram Truck Brand</strong>
</p>
<p>With a work&#45;hard&#44; play&#45;hard attitude&#44; the Ram Truck brand offers the boldest&#44; most powerful and capable pickup truck lineup on the planet.</p>
<p>The Ram Truck brand will add to its award&#45;winning truck lineup with the introduction of it all&#45;new 2010 Ram 2500 and 3500 Heavy Duty trucks&#44; Motor Trend&#39;s Truck of the Year. The new heavy&#45;duty trucks provide customers with first&#45;time innovations and features along with new standards of strength&#44; utility and driveability&#44; building on the Ram&#39;s leadership in the heavy&#45;duty pickup segment.</p>
<p>Introduced in 2008&#44; the Ram 1500 is a game changer in terms of its ability to &#34;outsmart&#34; and &#34;out&#45;tough&#34; the competition with its bold exterior design&#44; crafted and refined interior&#44; engineering excellence&#44; superb innovation and best&#45;in&#45;class features and amenities. The Ram 1500 also ranks at the top of Strategic Vision Inc.&#39;s &#40;SVI&#41; 2009 Total Quality Index&#8482; &#40;TQI&#41; in the full&#45;size truck segment. According to the survey&#44; the Ram 1500 leads the way with the highest Total Quality score of any truck in the 15&#45;year history of the study. Customers specifically noted that the Ram has the best added storage capability along with the best truck interior ever rated by customers.</p>
<p>The Ram Truck brand will further enhance its commercial vehicle presence with the introduction of a &#34;new crew&#34; of commercial&#45;grade work trucks&#58; the new 2011 Ram 3500&#44; 4500 and 5500 Chassis Cabs. Led by an all&#45;new crew cab&#44; the new 2011 Ram Chassis Cabs are built on a proven frame and chassis&#44; and engineered for maximum uptime&#44; optimum performance and enhanced commercial capability.</p>
<p>
<strong>Ram Sportsman&#39;s Tour Appearance Calendar</strong>
</p>
<p>March 3&#45;7; Fred Hall&#39;s Fishing Tackle &#38; Boat Show; Long Beach Convention Center; Long Beach&#44; Calif.</p>
<p>March 4&#45;7; Colorado RV Sports&#44; Boat and Travel Show; National Western Complex; Denver&#44; Colo.</p>
<p>March 4&#45;7; New Jersey Boat Show; New Jersey Convention Center&#44; Edison&#44; N.J.</p>
<p>March 4&#45;7; World Fishing &#38; Outdoor Expo; Rockland Community College Field House; Suffern&#44; N.Y.</p>
<p>March 4&#45;7; Red River Valley Sportsmen&#39;s Boat Camping and Vacation Show; Fargodome; Fargo&#44; N.D.</p>
<p>March 4&#45;7; Central Oregon Sportsmen&#39;s Show; Deschutes Fair &#38; Expo Center; Redmond&#44; Ore.</p>
<p>March 5&#45;7; Iowa Deer Classic; Iowa Events Center&#45;Hy&#45;Vee Hall; Des Moines&#44; Iowa</p>
<p>March 5&#45;7; Atlantic City RV &#38; Camping Show; Atlantic City Convention Center&#44; Atlantic City&#44; N.J.</p>
<p>March 5&#45;7; Erie Sport &#38; Travel Expos; Bayfront Convention Center&#44; Erie&#44; Pa.</p>
<p>March 10&#45;14; Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Sports Show; Wisconsin Expo Center at State Fair Park; West Allis&#44; Wis.</p>
<p>March 11&#45;14; Western New York Sport and Travel Expo; Hamburg Fairgrounds; Hamburg&#44; N.Y.</p>
<p>March 11&#45;14; Sioux Empire Sportmen&#39;s Boat&#44; Camping and Vacation Show; Sioux Falls Arena and Convention Center; Sioux Falls&#44; S.D.</p>
<p>March 12&#45;14; Annual Augusta Camper and RV Show; Augusta Civic Center; Augusta&#44; Maine</p>
<p>March 12&#45;14; Biloxi Boat and RV Show; Mississippi Coast Coliseum; Biloxi&#44; Miss.</p>
<p>March 12&#45;14; International Motorsports and Recreation Expo; Reno&#45;Sparks Convention Center; Reno&#44; Nev.</p>
<p>March 12&#45;14; Reno Boat Sport and RV Show; Reno&#45;Sparks Convention Center; Reno&#44; Nev.</p>
<p>March 12&#45;14; National Capital Boat Show; Dulles Expo Center; Chantilly&#44; Va.</p>
<p>March 17&#45;19; 2010 Tri&#45;State Camp Conference; Atlantic City Convention Center&#44; Atlantic City&#44; N.J.</p>
<p>March 18&#45;21; Ultimate Sports Show; DeVos Place; Grand Rapids&#44; Mich.</p>
<p>March 18&#45;21; Cleveland Outdoor Adventure Show; IX Center&#44; Cleveland&#44; Ohio</p>
<p>March 18&#45;21; International Sportsmen&#39;s Expo; South Towne Exposition Center; Salt Lake City&#44; Utah</p>
<p>March 18&#45;21; Big Horn Outdoor Adventure Show ; Spokane County Fair and Expo Center; Spokane Valley&#44; Wash.</p>
<p>March 19&#45;21; Maine Boat Show; Cumberland County Civic Center; Portland&#44; Maine</p>
<p>March 19&#45;21; Traverse City Hunting &#38; Fishing Expo; Civic Center &#47; Howe Arena; Traverse City&#44; Mich.</p>
<p>March 19&#45;21; The Saltwater Fishing Expo; Garden State Exhibit Center; Somerset&#44; N.J.</p>
<p>March 19&#45;21; Binghamton Camper and RV Show; Binghamton University Events Center; Binghamton&#44; N.Y.</p>
<p>March 19&#45;21; Ohio Deer and Turkey Expo; Ohio Exposition Center&#44; Columbus&#44; Ohio</p>
<p>March 19&#45;21; New England Salt Water Fishing Show; Rhode Island Convention Center; Providence&#44; R.I.</p>
<p>March 20&#45;22; Northeast Outdoors Show; Empire State Plaza; Albany&#44; N.Y.</p>
<p>March 24&#45;28; Fred Hall&#39;s Fishing Tackle &#38; Boat Show; Del Mar Fairgrounds; Del Mar&#44; Calif.</p>
<p>March 24&#45;28; Northwest Sportshow; Minneapolis Convention Center; Minneapolis&#44; Minn.</p>
<p>March 25&#45;28; Palm Beach International Boat Show; Flagler Drive; West Palm Beach&#44; Fla.</p>
<p>March 26&#45;28; Tidewater Boat Show; Hampton Roads Convention Center; Hampton&#44; Va.</p>
<p>April 2&#45;4; State of Maine Sportman&#39;s Show; Augusta Civic Center ; Augusta&#44; Maine</p>
<p>April 8&#45;11; Pomona RV and Travel Show; Pomona Fairplex; Pomona&#44; Calif.</p>
<p>April 9&#45;11; Pensacola Boat Show; Pensacola Civic Center; Pensacola&#44; Fla.</p>
<p>April 9&#45;11; Iowa RV and Travel Show; Iowa Events Center&#45;HyVee Hall; Des Moines&#44; Iowa</p>
<p>April 9&#45;11; Wisconsin Deer and Turkey Expo; Alliant Energy Center; Madison&#44; Wis</p>
<p>April 10&#45;11; Reno&#45;Sparks Convention Center; Reno&#44; Nev.</p>
<p>April 15&#45;18; Suncoast Boat Show; Ken Thompson Park&#45;City Island; Sarasota&#44; Fla.</p>
<p>April 16&#45;18; West Virginia Horse Expo; West Virginia State Fairgrounds; Lewisburg&#44; W.Va.</p>
<p>April 22&#45;25; Bay Bridge Boat Show; Baybridge Marina; Stevensville&#44; Md.</p>
<p>May 22&#45;23; Ride the West Horse Ranch Expo; FAB Quarterhorse Ranch; Spokane&#44; Wash.</p>
<p>June 9&#45;13; Houston Summer Boat Show; Reliant Center at Reliant Park; Houston&#44; Texas</p>
<p>July 23&#45;25; Texas Hunters &#38; Sportsman&#39;s Expo; McAllen Convention Center; McAllen&#44; Texas</p>
<p>Aug. 10&#45;22; Acadiana Great Outdoors Expo 2010; Cajundome &#38; Convention Center; Lafayette&#44; La.</p>
<p>Sept. 10&#45;12; Tampa Boat Show; Tampa Convention Center; Tampa&#44; Fla.</p>
<p>Sept. 23&#45;26; Norwalk Boat Show; Norwalk Cove Marina; Norwalk&#44; Conn.</p>
<p>Sept. 25&#45;Jan. 9&#44; 2011; Florida Sportsman Fishing &#38; Boat Show; Florida State Fairgrounds; Tampa&#44; Fla.</p>
<p>Oct. 15&#45;24; 58th Annual California RV Show; Fairplex Expo Center; Pomona&#44; Calif.</p>]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">2010_3_01_ram_2500_3500_pickups</guid><pubDate>March 1, 2010</pubDate><category>dodge_news dodge internal 2010 ram</category><source url="http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news">Chrysler Media Services LLC</source><dc:subject name="Dodge News" category="System Tag">dodge_news</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Dodge" category="System Tag">dodge</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Recent News From" category="System Tag">internal</dc:subject><dc:subject name="2010" category="System Tag">2010</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Ram" category="Dodge Vehicles">ram</dc:subject></item>
<item><title>Mopar&#174; Announces Best-Selling Performance Parts and Accessories for 2010 Dodge Challenger</title><link>http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news/articles/?guid=2010_2_115_mopar_best_selling_parts_for_challenger</link><description><![CDATA[
<p>Mopar Crashes Challenger&#39;s 40th Birthday Party Bearing Performance Parts and Accessories</p>
<ul>
<li>Mopar offers an array of performance parts and more than 100 accessories for the Dodge Challenger lineup</li>
<li>Complete list of Chrysler&#44; Jeep&#44; Dodge and Ram performance parts and accessories is available at <a href="javascript:flexWin('http://www.mopar.com','yes','1024','768','disclaimerWin','all');" name="&lpos=content">www.mopar.com</a>
</li>
</ul>
<p>Auburn Hills&#44; Mich.&#44; Feb 15&#44; 2010  &#45;  Mopar is bringing a truck&#45;load of performance parts and accessories to Dodge Challenger&#39;s 40th birthday party.</p>
<p>&#34;Dodge Challenger is one of our most accessorized vehicles&#44;&#34; said Pietro Gorlier&#44; President and Chief Executive Officer &#45; Mopar Service&#44; Parts and Customer Care&#44; Chrysler Group LLC. &#34;Unlike any other automotive aftermarket company&#44; Mopar parts and accessories are specifically designed&#44; engineered and quality&#45;tested to further enhance the performance and appearance of our Chrysler&#44; Jeep&#44; Dodge and Ram vehicles. This results in Dodge Challenger owners spending more than &#36;600 on Mopar accessories.&#34;</p>
<p>The 2010 Dodge Challenger is available in three models &#45; SE&#44; R&#47;T and SRT8. With cutting&#45;edge technology and ultimate performance in two available HEMI&#174; V&#45;8 engines&#44; Dodge Challenger delivers on the brand&#39;s &#34;bold&#44; powerful and capable&#34; credo.</p>
<p>Following are Mopar&#39;s best&#45;selling accessories for Dodge Challenger&#58;</p>
<ol>
<li>
<p>Door&#45;Sill Guards&#58; Mopar&#39;s brushed stainless steel guards make scratches to the interior sills a thing of the past. Manufacturer&#39;s Suggested Retail Price &#40;MSRP&#41;&#58; &#36;140</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Vehicle Cover&#58; Dodge Challenger owners may cover their prized possession with Mopar&#39;s vehicle cover. Protection from ultraviolet rays&#44; dirt and other pollutants is available with a washable cover that features a Dodge Challenger logo and elastic edges. MSRP&#58; &#36;323</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Chromed Fuel&#45;Filler Door&#58; A chromed custom fuel door complements Dodge Challenger&#39;s exterior paint colors and provides the retro look of muscle cars from the past. MSRP&#58; &#36;176</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Rear Deck&#45;Lid Spoiler&#58; Mopar&#39;s &#34;go&#45;wing&#34; spoiler attracts additional attention for the owner who is looking for that enhanced heritage look. MSRP&#58; &#36;316</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Splash Guard Kits&#58; Molded splash guards provide excellent protection for front fenders&#44; rocker panels and rear fascias. MSRP&#58; &#36;52.75&#47;pair</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Classic Mopar T&#47;A hood&#58; Available with an integrated scoop that adds to Dodge Challenger&#39;s aggressive appearance. The scoop is matte black and may be painted to match any exterior. MSRP&#58; &#36;1&#44;275</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Decal Kits&#58; Mopar offers a variety of graphics that provide long&#45;lasting appeal and are constructed of fade&#45; and weather&#45;resistant vinyl. Among the available choices are a full body&#45;side beltline graphic in matte black or matte silver &#40;MSRP&#58; &#36;190&#41; or a custom strobe stripe beginning on the front of the vehicle and fading out midway through the door &#40;MSRP&#58; &#36;182&#41;.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Floor Mat Kit&#58; A set of four dark&#45;slate grey mats provide excellent protection for floor surfaces and feature a Dodge Challenger logo. MSRP&#58; &#36;82.25</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Hitch Receiver&#58; Available for base and R&#47;T models&#44; the 1&#44;000&#45;pound tow&#45;rated hitch has a 2&#45;inch receiver opening. MSRP&#58; &#36;298</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Interior Trim Bezel&#58; Provides an upgraded look on the center stack bezel and console trim plate with a carbon weave finish. MSRP&#58; &#36;172</p>
</li>
</ol>
<p>On the performance side&#44; Mopar continues to offer key engine and suspension components for any production Challenger. Following are a few of the most popular offerings&#58;</p>
<ol>
<li>
<p>Cold&#45;Air Intake Systems&#58; Replaces the factory system for the 5.7&#45;liter HEMI &#40;MSRP&#58; &#36;371&#41; or 6.1&#45;liter HEMI &#40;MSRP&#58; &#36;384&#41; and allows cooler outside air into the engine for gains in horsepower and torque.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Cat&#45;Back Exhaust Systems&#58; Deliver a throaty exhaust tone while providing improved horsepower and torque. Available for 5.7&#45;liter HEMI &#40;MSRP&#58; &#36;1&#44;190&#41; and 6.1&#45;liter HEMI &#40;MSRP&#58; &#36;1&#44;745&#41;.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Stage 2 Coilover Suspension Kit&#58; Allows Dodge Challenger owners to lower the ride height of their vehicle for a low&#44; custom look and a sporty ride. MSRP&#58; &#36;1&#44;750</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Mopar Strut Tower Brace&#58; Reduces body flex in the front end while improving handling. MSRP&#58; &#36;359</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Performance Brake Pads&#58; Offer superior braking and pedal feel without brake fade at higher operating temperatures. MSRP&#58; &#36;74</p>
</li>
</ol>
<p>
<strong>Dodge Brand</strong>
<br/>Dodge is a full line of cars&#44; SUVs and MPVs that are agile&#44; daring&#44; sensible and inventive. The product line includes the Dodge Caliber&#44; Dodge Avenger&#44; Dodge Challenger&#44; Dodge Charger&#44; Dodge Grand Caravan&#44; Dodge Journey&#44; Dodge Nitro and Dodge Viper SRT10.</p>
<p>Dodge introduced two new vehicles last year&#58; the all&#45;new Dodge Journey&#44; the brand&#39;s first crossover vehicle&#44; and the Dodge Challenger&#44; a modern&#45;day American muscle car. Dodge also celebrated the 25th anniversary of the minivan during the 2009 model year. With more than 65 minivan&#45;firsts introduced since 1983 and more than 12 million Dodge and Chrysler minivans sold&#44; Chrysler Group LLC has solidified its leadership in the segment. J.D. Power and Associates further acknowledged this leadership by naming the Dodge Grand Caravan the Most Dependable Van for 2009. The 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan continues to set the mark in the minivan segment with unsurpassed fuel economy of 17 city &#47; 25 highway mpg and minivan&#45;first innovations including the segment&#39;s only Stow &#39;n Go&#174; and Swivel &#39;n Go&#8482; seating and storage systems. The 2010 Dodge Journey and the 2010 Dodge Avenger&#44; with Electronic Stability Control&#44; both earned the 2010 Top Safety Pick rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety &#40;IIHS&#41;.</p>
<p>Also in 2008&#44; the Dodge Journey entered key volume markets outside North America&#44; joining the Dodge Avenger&#44; Nitro and Caliber. Dodge Caliber was the highest sales volume vehicle for the company outside North America in 2008.</p>
<p>
<strong>Mopar Brand</strong>
<br/>Mopar distributes approximately 280&#44;000 parts and accessories in more than 90 countries and is the source for all original equipment parts for Chrysler&#44; Jeep&#44; Dodge and Ram vehicles. Mopar parts are unique in that they are engineered with the same teams that create factory&#45;authorized vehicle specifications for Chrysler&#44; Jeep&#44; Dodge and Ram vehicles &#8212; a direct connection that no other aftermarket parts company can provide.</p>
<p>
<strong>More than 70 Years of Mopar</strong>
<br/>When Chrysler bought Dodge in 1928&#44; the need for a dedicated parts manufacturer&#44; supplier and distribution system to support the growing enterprise led to the formation of the Chrysler Motor Parts Corporation &#40;CMPC&#41; in 1929.</p>
<p>Mopar &#40;a simple contraction of the words Motor and PARts&#41; was trademarked for a line of antifreeze products in 1937. It also was widely used as a moniker for the CMPC. The Mopar brand made its mark in the 1960s &#8212; the muscle&#45;car era. The former Chrysler Corporation built race&#45;ready Dodge and Plymouth &#34;package cars&#34; equipped with special high&#45;performance parts. Mopar carried a line of &#34;special parts&#34; for super stock drag racers and developed its racing parts division called Mopar Performance Parts to enhance speed and handling for both road and racing use.</p>]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">2010_2_115_mopar_best_selling_parts_for_challenger</guid><pubDate>February 15, 2010</pubDate><category>dodge_news dodge internal 2010 challenger awards</category><source url="http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news">Chrysler Media Services LLC</source><dc:subject name="Dodge News" category="System Tag">dodge_news</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Dodge" category="System Tag">dodge</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Recent News From" category="System Tag">internal</dc:subject><dc:subject name="2010" category="System Tag">2010</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Challenger" category="Dodge Vehicles">challenger</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Awards" category="Automotive">awards</dc:subject></item>
<item><title>2010 Chrysler Town &#38; Country and Dodge Journey Earn Pet Safe Choice Awards</title><link>http://www.chrysler.com/en/experience/news/articles/?guid=2010_02_12_town_n_country_journey_pet_safe_award</link><description><![CDATA[
<ul>
<li>Bark Buckle UP&#39;s 2010 Pet Safe Choice Award recognizes the 2010 Chrysler Town &#38; Country and the 2010 Dodge Journey as one of the 10&#45;best vehicles to accommodate and secure pets</li>
<li>Chrysler Town &#38; Country is the best vehicle to transport people and pets with more than 65 minivan&#45;first features&#44; including Stow &#96;n Go&#174; seating and storage system&#44; rearview conversation mirror&#44; Parkview&#8482; rear back&#45;up camera and Blind&#45;spot Monitoring &#40;BSM&#41; and Rear Cross Path &#40;RCP&#41; advance safety systems</li>
<li>With unmatched cargo flexibility for all your pet&#39;s needs&#44; the 2010 Dodge Journey features spacious storage bins&#44; including the Flip &#39;n Stow&#8482; front&#45;passenger seat concealed storage bin&#44; Chill Zone&#8482; glove box cooler and second&#45;row dual in&#45;floor storage bins with washable and removable liners</li>
</ul>
<p>Chicago&#44; Feb 12&#44; 2010  &#45;</p>
<p>The Chrysler Town &#38; Country and Dodge Journey have been awarded Bark Buckle UP&#39;s 2010 Pet Safe Choice Awards at the 2010 Chicago Auto Show. The Pet Safe Choice Award is given to vehicles that best accommodate a variety of pet needs&#44; including ventilation for pets and adaptability of third&#45;party pet&#45;travel gear.</p>
<p>&#34;The 2010 Chrysler Town &#38; Country continues to be the best vehicle to transport people&#44; belongings and their pets with minivan&#45;first second&#45; and third&#45;row fold&#45;in&#45;floor Stow &#96;n Go seating&#44; large in&#45;floor covered storage bins&#44; low step&#45;in load floor&#44; power&#45;sliding doors and power liftgate&#44;&#34; said Olivier Francois&#44; President and CEO &#8212; Chrysler Brand&#44; Chrysler Group LLC.</p>
<p>Bark Buckle UP evaluated vehicles on a variety of criteria&#44; including accommodation of animals and various kennel sizes&#44; ease of pet access within the vehicle&#44; ease of pet entry and exit&#44; pet&#45;friendly interior surfaces and their ease of clean up.</p>
<p>&#34;Pets are an extension of every family&#44; and the Dodge Journey&#39;s best&#45;in&#45;class seating and storage solutions meet the needs of all family members from kids to pets. With features like the available integrated booster seat that accommodates children comfortably&#44; to in&#45;floor storage that keeps all the pet&#45;essentials organized and easy&#45;to&#45;reach&#44; the Dodge Journey makes every trip better for the entire family&#44;&#34; said Ralph Gilles&#44; President and CEO &#8212; Dodge Brand&#44; Chrysler Group LLC.</p>
<p>
<strong>About 2010 Chrysler Town &#38; Country</strong>
<br/>With more than 26 years of unsurpassed leadership in minivan engineering and design&#44; Chrysler Town &#38; Country celebrates its 20th year as the segment&#39;s foremost luxury minivan. The 2010 Chrysler Town &#38; Country continues to hit the mark in minivan innovation and value with more than 65 minivan&#45;first features&#44; a contemporary appearance&#44; two distinct seating and storage systems&#44; Stow &#96;n Go&#174; and Swivel &#96;n Go&#174;&#44; segment&#45;exclusive SIRIUS Backseat TV and more than 40 available safety features.</p>
<p>Commemorating two decades of minivan luxury and innovation&#44; the special&#45;edition 2010 Chrysler Town &#38; Country Walter P. Chrysler Signature Series features an even more luxurious interior with unique two&#45;tone seating with French&#45;seamed stitching&#44; Macassar Range wood trim and satin finishes on the instrument panel and doors to provide added detail. Additional standard features include the minivan&#45;first Stow &#96;n Go seating and storage system&#44; Media Center 430 radio with touchscreen and 30&#45;gigabyte hard drive&#44; minivan&#45;first second&#45; and third&#45;row nine&#45;inch dual&#45;DVD entertainment system&#44; heated first&#45; and second&#45;row seating and LED lighting with ambient halo light ring. Unique seven&#45;spoke 17&#45;inch aluminum wheels with platinum&#45;chromed finish&#44; chromed belt&#44; fascia accents and body&#45;side moldings&#44; roof rack with cross bars and &#34;Walter P. Chrysler Signature Series&#34; front door badging enhance this special&#45;edition Chrysler Town &#38; Country&#39;s exterior appearance.</p>
<p>The 2010 Chrysler Town &#38; Country received the U.S. Government&#39;s Five Star crash test rating in both front and side impact tests. The U.S. Manufacturer&#39;s Suggested Retail Price &#40;MSRP&#41; for the 2010 Chrysler Town &#38; Country LX is &#36;25&#44;995 &#40;including &#36;820 destination&#41;.</p>
<p>
<strong>About the Dodge Journey</strong>
<br/>The 2010 Dodge Journey redefines the expanding mid&#45;size crossover segment&#44; offering seven&#45;passenger seating&#44; safety and security&#44; cargo flexibility and great all&#45;weather driving capability. Add in its youthful&#44; sporty look&#44; fun&#45;to&#45;drive dynamics&#44; innovative features and 25&#45;mpg highway fuel&#45;efficiency&#44; and Dodge Journey gives customers the complete value package.</p>
<p>With the simple turn of a lever&#44; Dodge Journey&#39;s available 5&#43;2&#45;passenger&#45;seating system quickly folds the Tilt &#39;n Slide&#8482; second&#45;row seat cushion upward and slides the entire seat forward&#44; allowing third&#45;row passengers easy in&#45;and&#45;out access. Two available integrated child booster seats&#44; a first in the mid&#45;size crossover segment&#44; quickly pull out from the second&#45;row seat cushion&#44; eliminating the need to transport bulky child seats. Spacious storage bins&#44; including the Flip &#39;n Stow&#8482; front&#45;passenger seat concealed storage bin&#44; Chill Zone&#8482; glove box beverage cooler and second&#45;row dual in&#45;floor storage bins with liners are easy to reach.</p>
<p>In&#45;vehicle technologies include Media Center&#8482; 730N with navigation&#44; 30&#45;gigabyte hard drive with voice commands&#44; iPod&#174; Control&#44; Uconnect   Phone and real&#45;time traffic monitoring. Rear&#45;seat passengers will enjoy the available rear&#45;seat entertainment system with a nine&#45;inch screen&#44; two wireless headphones and available SIRIUS Backseat TV&#8482;.</p>
<p>
<strong>About the Chrysler Brand</strong>
<br/>The Chrysler brand has delighted customers with distinctive designs&#44; craftsmanship&#44; intuitive innovation and technology&#8212;all at an extraordinary value&#8212;since the company was founded in 1925.</p>
<p>Whether it is the groundbreaking&#44; bold design of the Chrysler 300&#44; the sleek elegant styling of a Sebring Convertible&#44; or the &#34;family room on wheels&#34; functionality of the Chrysler Town &#38; Country&#44; Chrysler brand vehicles reward the passion&#44; creativity and sense of accomplishment of its owners. Beyond just exceptionally designed vehicles&#44; the Chrysler brand has incorporated thoughtful features into all of its products&#44; such as the Stow &#39;n Go seating and storage system on the Chrysler Town &#38; Country&#44; the fuel&#45;saving Multi&#45;displacement System &#40;MDS&#41; in the Chrysler 300 and Uconnect Phone utilizing Bluetooth technology on the Chrysler Sebring and Chrysler Sebring Convertible.</p>
<p>Chrysler celebrated the 25th anniversary of the minivan during the 2009 model year. With more than 65 segment&#45;firsts introduced since 1983 and more than 12 million Dodge and Chrysler minivans sold&#44; Chrysler Group LLC has solidified its leadership in the segment. The 2010 Chrysler Town &#38; Country continues to set the mark in minivan value with more than 40 new or improved features from the previous generation&#44; including unsurpassed 17 city &#47; 25 highway mpg fuel economy. The 2010 Chrysler Town &#38; Country is also the first minivan in the segment to feature Blind&#45;spot Monitoring &#40;BSM&#41; and Rear Cross Path &#40;RCP&#41; accident avoidance safety systems.</p>
<p>The Chrysler brand&#39;s succession of innovative product introductions continues to solidify the brand&#39;s standing as the leader in design&#44; engineering and value. The premium for the Chrysler brand is in the product&#44; not the price.</p>
<p>
<strong>About Dodge Brand</strong>
<br/>Dodge is a full line of cars&#44; SUVs and MPVs that are agile&#44; daring&#44; sensible and inventive. The product line includes the Dodge Caliber&#44; Dodge Avenger&#44; Dodge Challenger&#44; Dodge Charger&#44; Dodge Grand Caravan&#44; Dodge Journey&#44; Dodge Nitro and Dodge Viper SRT10.</p>
<p>Dodge introduced two new vehicles for the 2009 model year&#58; the all&#45;new 2009 Dodge Journey&#44; the brand&#39;s first crossover vehicle and the 2009 Dodge Challenger&#44; a modern&#45;day American muscle car. Dodge also celebrated the 25th anniversary of the minivan during the 2009 model year. With more than 65 minivan&#45;firsts introduced since 1983 and more than 12 million Dodge and Chrysler minivans sold&#44; Chrysler Group LLC has solidified its leadership in the segment. J.D. Power and Associates further acknowledged this leadership by naming the Dodge Grand Caravan the Most Dependable Van for 2009. The 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan continues to set the mark in the minivan segment with unsurpassed fuel economy of 17 city &#47; 25 highway mpg and minivan&#45;first innovations including the segment&#39;s only Stow &#8216;n Go and Swivel &#8216;n Go seating and storage systems. The 2010 Dodge Journey and 2010 Dodge Avenger &#40;with ESC&#41; also earned the 2009 Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS.</p>
<p>
<strong>About Bark Buckle UP</strong>
<br/>Christina Selter&#44; &#34;Pet Safety Lady&#34;&#44;&#34; founder of Bark Buckle UP&#44; Bark10&#45;4 and the Bark Buckle UP Charity&#44; works closely with Fire&#44; Police&#44; Coast Guard and EMT personnel who support the safety program and has been featured at International Auto Shows&#44; Pet Expos&#44; Television&#44; Radio&#44; News Articles and guest speaking engagements nationwide. Bark Buckle UP is the recognized innovative leader and experts for pet travel safety. Bark Buckle UP educates and promotes awareness for pet safety while traveling with our pets. For more news and information&#44; visit www.barkbuckleup.com</p>]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">2010_02_12_town_n_country_journey_pet_safe_award</guid><pubDate>February 12, 2010</pubDate><category>chrysler_news chrysler internal dodge dodge_news town_country journey awards 2010 featured</category><source url="http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news">Chrysler Media Services LLC</source><dc:subject name="Chrysler News" category="System Tag">chrysler_news</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Chrysler" category="System Tag">chrysler</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Recent News From" category="System Tag">internal</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Dodge" category="System Tag">dodge</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Dodge News" category="System Tag">dodge_news</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Town &#38; Country" category="Chrysler Vehicles">town_country</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Journey" category="Dodge Vehicles">journey</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Awards" category="Automotive">awards</dc:subject><dc:subject name="2010" category="System Tag">2010</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Featured" category="System Tag">featured</dc:subject></item>
<item><title>Dodge Challenger: Forty Years of a Dodge Muscle-car Legend</title><link>http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news/articles/?guid=2010_2_10_Dodge_challenger_muscle_car_legend</link><description><![CDATA[
<ul>
<li>Visit the heritage of the Dodge Challenger at <a href="javascript:flexWin('www.dodgechallenger40th.com','yes','1024','768','challenger40th','all');" name="&lpos=content">www.dodgechallenger40th.com</a>
</li>
</ul>
<p>Chicago&#44; Feb 10&#44; 2010  &#45;  When the Dodge Challenger first entered in the muscle car ranks of Detroit&#39;s Big Three&#44; it arrived with something its competitors didn&#39;t have&#58; the greatest range of powertrain choices in the industry&#44; from the small but durable 225&#45;cubic&#45;inch &#34;Slant Six&#34; to the fearsome &#34;Elephant Motor&#34; &#8212; the 426 HEMI&#174;. With the best muscle&#45;car powertrains in the business&#44; Dodge Challenger has added&#44; and continues to add&#44; to its rich legacy&#44; creating one of the most storied nameplates in automotive history.</p>
<p>Dodge Challenger&#39;s 40&#45;year legacy includes&#58;</p>
<p>
<strong>1970</strong>
<br/>The Dodge Challenger made its debut in the fall of 1969 as a 1970 model. While it shared Chrysler&#39;s &#34;E&#45;body&#34; short&#45;deck&#44; long&#45;hood platform with the third&#45;generation Plymouth Barracuda&#44; Dodge Challenger&#39;s wheelbase was 2 inches longer&#44; creating more interior space.</p>
<p>The Dodge Challenger was originally offered as a two&#45;door hardtop or convertible&#44; in base&#44; SE &#40;Special Edition&#41;&#44; R&#47;T &#40;Road&#47;Track&#41; and T&#47;A &#40;Trans&#45;Am&#41; trim. But it was the range of powertrain choices that was truly remarkable&#58;</p>
<ul>
<li>225&#45;cubic&#45;inch I&#45;6; 145 horsepower</li>
<li>318&#45;cubic&#45;inch V&#45;8; 230 horsepower</li>
<li>340&#45;cubic&#45;inch V&#45;8; 275 horsepower &#40;290 horsepower in the T&#47;A&#41;</li>
<li>383&#45;cubic&#45;inch V&#45;8; 290 horsepower</li>
<li>383&#45;cubic&#45;inch V&#45;8; 330 horsepower</li>
<li>383&#45;cubic&#45;inch V&#45;8; 335 horsepower</li>
<li>426&#45;cubic&#45;inch HEMI V&#45;8; 425 horsepower</li>
<li>440&#45;cubic&#45;inch V&#45;8; 375 horsepower</li>
<li>440&#45;cubic&#45;inch V&#45;8; 390 horsepower</li>
</ul>
<p>Driveline choices for various engines included Chrysler&#39;s TorqueFlite automatic transmission and a three&#45; or four&#45;speed manual transmission&#44; which could be equipped with a Hurst &#34;pistol&#45;grip&#34; shifter. Big&#45;block Challengers could be ordered with a heavy&#45;duty Dana 60 differential equipped with a limited&#45;slip differential.</p>
<p>Even the paint schemes said &#34;performance&#44;&#34; with colors&#44; including Plum Crazy and HEMI Orange&#44; accented with &#34;bumblebee&#34; stripes. Customers could further customize their cars with twin&#45;scooped hoods&#44; &#34;shaker&#34; hoods and deck&#45;lid wings.</p>
<p>Befitting the brand&#39;s performance heritage&#44; Dodge raced the Challenger in its first year on the market. For the street&#44; it was offered in the limited&#45;edition T&#47;A model to meet homologation requirements for Sports Car Club of America &#40;SCCA&#41; Trans&#45;Am racing. The T&#47;A was one of the first production vehicles to offer staggered size tires in the front and back; E60 x 15&#45;inch front and G60 x 15&#45;inch rear.</p>
<p>In 1970&#44; Sam Posey drove the lone Trans&#45;Am racing Challenger&#44; prepared and run by Ray Caldwell&#39;s Autodynamics Race Shop. While he didn&#39;t win a race in the No. 77 car&#44; Posey finished fourth overall in points.</p>
<p>Drag racers&#44; including Dick Landy and Ted Spehar&#44; also campaigned Challengers in the National Hot Rod Association&#39;s new Pro Stock class. In 1970 and 1971&#44; the HEMI&#45;powered Challengers &#40;and Plymouth &#8216;Cudas&#41; virtually ruled the class.</p>
<p>On the big screen&#44; a 1970 Challenger R&#47;T starred in the film Vanishing Point&#44; a high&#45;speed pursuit movie that has become a cult favorite with muscle&#45;car fans. The movie was remade for television in 1997.</p>
<p>Other 1970 Dodge Challengers have been seen in films&#44; including Used Cars&#44; Natural Born Killers and Phantasm I and II; and in television shows&#44; including Mod Squad.</p>
<p>For the 1970 model year&#44; more than 83&#44;000 Dodge Challengers were sold.</p>
<p>
<strong>1971</strong>
<br/>In 1971&#44; designers made subtle styling changes to the Dodge Challenger&#44; providing new treatments to the taillamps and grille. The single&#45;taillamp design from 1970 became two distinct lights for 1971&#44; and a new&#45;for&#45;1971 twin&#45;inlet Challenger grille was painted silver on standard models and black on R&#47;Ts.</p>
<p>Challenger R&#47;T models also received a set of fiberglass quarter&#45;panel louvers. An additional coupe model with fixed quarter windows was added to the lineup.</p>
<p>As in 1970&#44; a wide range of trim levels&#44; exterior colors and striping options made the Dodge Challenger easy for customers to create a special car. However&#44; for 1971&#44; Dodge dropped the T&#47;A &#40;it was no longer racing in Trans&#45;Am&#41;&#44; SE models and R&#47;T convertible.</p>
<p>New EPA emission standards led to some powertrain changes; the optional 375 horsepower 440&#45;cubic&#45;inch was eliminated&#44; as was the Six Pack&#45;equipped 340&#45;cubic&#45;inch powerplant. The 383&#45;cubic&#45;inch Magnum engine was detuned to 300 horsepower by lowering the compression ratio for improved emissions. However&#44; a 390 horsepower six&#45;pack 440 V&#45;8 was available&#44; and the 425 horsepower 426&#45;cubic&#45;inch HEMI still topped the vast engine offerings.</p>
<p>A Dodge Challenger paced the Indianapolis 500 race in 1971. Dodge produced 50 Challenger convertible pace car replicas &#8212; all painted HEMI Orange with white tops and interiors.</p>
<p>
<strong>1972</strong>
<br/>With escalating insurance rates and new EPA emissions mandates&#44; more changes came to the Dodge Challenger in 1972. Also&#44; the Society of Automotive Engineers &#40;SAE&#41; revised the torque and horsepower rating test from a &#34;gross&#34; to a &#34;net&#34; as installed in the cars. This reduced all ratings 20 to 30 percent&#44; making them non&#45;comparable to previous ratings.</p>
<p>Only three engines were available in the 1972 Dodge Challenger&#58; the 225&#45;cubic&#45;inch Slant Six with 110 horsepower&#44; the 318&#45;cubic&#45;inch V&#45;8 with 150 horsepower and the 340&#45;cubic&#45;inch V&#45;8 with 240 horsepower. All were equipped to use the then&#45;new unleaded fuel.</p>
<p>With convertible sales in steady decline over several years&#44; the 1972 Dodge Challenger was offered in hardtop form only. The sun roof had become a more popular alternative and was offered as an option for more than &#36;400.</p>
<p>New front&#45;end styling in 1972 featured a larger &#34;egg&#45;crate&#34; grille. It was painted argent for standard Challengers and black on the Challenger Rallye performance model&#44; which replaced the R&#47;T. The Challenger&#39;s taillamp design included twin lights on each side&#44; with the center panel painted the same color as the grille. The Rallye model also was equipped with four small scoops on the front fenders.</p>
<p>
<strong>1973</strong>
<br/>Beginning in 1973&#44; the federal government mandated new bumper&#45;impact standards that resulted in the only changes to the Dodge Challenger exterior &#8212; five&#45;miles&#45;per&#45;hour bumpers equipped with large rubber guards that extended out from the bodywork.</p>
<p>Inside&#44; grained vinyl was the only available seating material&#44; but a new instrument&#45;cluster design was part of the Rallye option package. The Rallye was eliminated as a separate model&#44; although customers could create one with options.</p>
<p>Under the hood&#44; the six&#45;cylinder engine was no longer available; the 150 horsepower 318&#45;cubic&#45;inch V&#45;8 was standard&#44; with the 240 horsepower 340&#45;cubic&#45;inch V&#45;8 as the only option.</p>
<p>
<strong>1974</strong>
<br/>With performance car insurance rates skyrocketing&#44; more safety equipment led the short list of changes for the 1974 model&#45;year Dodge Challengers.</p>
<p>Inside&#44; lap and shoulder belts were equipped with an inertia reel. In addition&#44; there was a federally mandated seat belt&#45;ignition interlock&#44; which prevented the car from being started if the driver or passenger didn&#39;t buckle up.</p>
<p>The Dodge Challenger offered a different engine option for 1974. With the 318&#45;cubic&#45;inch V&#45;8 still standard&#44; a 360&#45;cubic&#45;inch V&#45;8 producing 245 horsepower replaced the 340&#45;cubic&#45;inch V&#45;8 as the only engine option.</p>
<p>In April 1974&#44; Challenger production ceased. During a five&#45;year span&#44; approximately 188&#44;600 Dodge Challengers were sold.</p>
<p>
<strong>1978&#45;1984</strong>
<br/>Beginning in 1978 &#8212; the year the U.S. Corporate Average Fuel Economy &#40;CAFE&#41; standard took effect &#8212; Dodge offered a new Challenger two&#45;door coupe imported from Mitsubishi. It was offered with a standard 1.6&#45;liter&#44; 77 horsepower I&#45;4 engine&#44; with a 2.6&#45;liter&#44; 105 horsepower four&#45;cylinder as an option.</p>
<p>Slightly restyled in 1981&#44; the Dodge Challenger soldiered on until 1984&#44; replaced by the growing stable of Chrysler Corporation&#39;s K&#45;platform compacts and a new import from Mitsubishi&#58; the Dodge&#47;Plymouth Conquest.</p>
<p>During its six&#45;year run&#44; sales of the imported Dodge Challenger averaged between 12&#44;000 and 14&#44;000 units per year.</p>
<p>
<strong>2006</strong>
<br/>At the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January 2006&#44; Dodge unveiled the Challenger concept to immediate acclaim. Based on the Dodge Charger&#39;s advanced rear&#45;wheel&#45;drive platform and legendary HEMI V&#45;8 engine&#44; the Dodge Challenger concept featured the long hood&#44; short deck&#44; wide stance and two&#45;door coupe body&#45;style that resembled the iconic Challengers of the 1970s. Over the next several months&#44; the company received repeated pleas from consumers and the media to build the car.</p>
<p>
<strong>2008</strong>
<br/>The Dodge Challenger returned with the all&#45;new 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8&#174; at the Chicago Auto Show. The 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8 offered all that pony&#45;car fanatics crave&#58; ground shaking performance&#44; unmistakable design cues reminiscent of the original Challenger&#44; world&#45;class ride and handling characteristics and benchmark braking.</p>
<p>The Dodge Challenger SRT8&#39;s 425 horsepower &#40;317 kW&#41; and 420 lb.&#45;ft. of torque &#40;569 N&#8901;m&#41; were the result of SRT&#39;s exclusive&#44; proven 6.1&#45;liter HEMI V&#45;8 engine. Its 69.8 horsepower&#45;per&#45;liter rating exceeds even that of the legendary 1966 &#34;Street HEMI.&#34;</p>
<p>Dodge Challenger SRT8 sports a five&#45;link independent rear suspension allowing for independent tuning of ride&#45;and&#45;handling characteristics. The Challenger SRT8 featured SRT&#45;exclusive 20&#45;inch fully&#45;forged Alcoa aluminum wheels with four&#45;season Goodyear Eagle RS&#45;A or optional three&#45;season Goodyear F1 Supercar tires. All four wheels were equipped with red painted Brembo calipers that feature four opposing pistons on a fixed caliper for even clamping performance.</p>
<p>The 6&#44;400 Dodge Challenger SRT8 models built for the 2008 model year were available in HEMI Orange&#44; Bright Silver Metallic and Brilliant Black Crystal Pearl exterior paint colors. Interior highlights included race&#45;inspired leather seats with added bolstering and an exclusive red accent stripe&#44; exclusive stitched accents on the seats and steering wheel&#44; four&#45;bomb gauges with tachometer and 180&#45;mph speedometer in the center. An SRT&#45;exclusive Reconfigurable Display &#40;RCD&#41; with Performance Pages provided drivers instant feedback on zero to 60 mph time&#44; 60 to zero mph braking&#44; g&#45;forces and 1&#47;4&#45;mile time&#44; and limited&#45;edition numbered dash plaque.</p>
<p>The first production 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8 was sold at the 37th annual Barrett&#45;Jackson Collector Car Auction with a winning bid placed by Craig Jackson&#44; Chairman&#47;CEO of the Barrett&#45;Jackson Auction Company of &#36;400&#44;000. All of the proceeds went to charity.</p>
<p>
<strong>2009</strong>
<br/>The introduction of the all&#45;new 2009 Dodge Challenger SE and R&#47;T models at the New York International Auto Show delivered the full lineup of Dodge Challengers to the marketplace. From the maximum Dodge Challenger SRT8&#44; to the performance of the Challenger R&#47;T with its 5.7&#45;liter HEMI V&#45;8&#44; to the cutting&#45;edge technology of Challenger SE with the efficient 3.5&#45;liter V&#45;6 engine&#44; the 2009 Dodge Challenger offered a full menu of options for every customer.</p>
<p>Adding even more capability than the 2008 model&#44; the 2009 Dodge Challenger SRT8 with its powerful 6.1&#45;liter HEMI V&#45;8 offered a six&#45;speed manual transmission&#44; in addition to the proven five&#45;speed automatic with Auto Stick. The six&#45;speed&#8212;the Tremec TR&#45;6060&#8212;was matched with a race&#45;inspired dual&#45;disc clutch that was first offered on the 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10.</p>
<p>The new 2009 Dodge Challenger R&#47;T tucked its legendary 5.7&#45;liter HEMI V&#45;8 engine under a long&#44; raised performance hood with functional hood scoops to increase engine cooling. The newest&#45;generation 5.7&#45;liter HEMI&#174; V&#45;8 engine featured dual Variable&#45;cam Timing &#40;VCT&#41; and dual ignition &#40;two spark plugs per cylinder&#41; to increase power and torque&#44; while improving refinement and efficiency.</p>
<p>When paired with the automatic transmission&#44; the new&#45;generation 5.7&#45;liter HEMI&#174; V&#45;8 included the fuel&#45;saving Multi&#45;displacement System &#40;MDS&#41; allowing Dodge Challenger R&#47;T Classic to operate economically on four cylinders&#44; or produce 372 horsepower &#40;277 kW&#41; and 401 lb.&#45;ft. of torque &#40;544 N&#8901;m&#41; when all eight cylinders are needed.</p>
<p>With its &#34;pistol grip&#34; shifter&#44; the six&#45;speed manual transmission Dodge Challenger R&#47;T featured a performance&#45;tuned dual exhaust with optimized engine back pressure and two low&#45;restriction bottle resonators for maximum &#34;throatiness.&#34; The result&#44; even more power at tap with 376 horsepower &#40;280 kW&#41; and 410 lb.&#45;ft. of torque &#40;556 N&#8901;m&#41; ready to accelerate the Dodge Challenger R&#47;T from zero to 60 mph in less than 6 seconds.</p>
<p>The new 2009 Dodge Challenger SE powered by the 3.5&#45;liter High Output V&#45;6 with a four&#45;speed automatic transmission produced 250 horsepower &#40;186 kW&#41; and 250 lb.&#45;ft. of torque &#40;339 N&#8901;m&#41;.</p>
<p>Halfway through the 2009 model year&#44; the Dodge Challenger R&#47;T Classic offered menacing looks and&#44; combined with the 5.7&#45;liter V&#45;8 engine&#44; an unforgettable punch. Based on the Challenger R&#47;T&#44; the Challenger R&#47;T Classic featured dual throwback A&#45;line body&#45;side R&#47;T stripes in matte black&#44; &#8216;Challenger&#39; fender badging in classic script&#44; large 20&#45;inch polished&#45;chrome heritage wheels&#44; classic egg&#45;crate grille with heritage &#8216;R&#47;T&#39; badge&#44; body&#45;color rear spoiler and bright racing style fuel filler door.</p>
<p>The 2009 Dodge Challenger SE Rallye added even more pony&#45;car excitement with a more responsive five&#45;speed automatic transmission &#40;implemented as standard equipment on all mid&#45;year Challenger SEs&#41;&#44; throw&#45;back hood and deck&#45;lid dual stripes with accent color outer stripes&#44; bright racing style fuel filler door&#44; 18&#45;inch rallye wheels with all&#45;season performance tires&#44; body&#45;color deck&#45;lid spoiler and Micro Carbon interior accents.</p>
<p>Original B5 Blue returned from the Dodge paint code archive for a limited&#45;edition run of Challenger R&#47;T Classic and Challenger SRT8 models.</p>
<p>Based on the production Dodge Challenger SRT8&#44; Mopar&#174; offered a modern factory&#45;prepped Challenger Drag Race Package Car &#40;as a special body&#45;in&#45;white&#41;. To reduce vehicle weight&#44; major production component and systems were eliminated&#44; including windshield wiper assembly&#44; complete HVAC system&#44; all airbag components&#44; rear seats&#44; power steering system&#44; exhaust system and underbody heat shields&#44; cross&#45;car and side&#45;impact door beams&#44; rear&#45;bumper beam and rear deck&#45;lid spoiler. The drag racer offered three engine options &#8212; 6.1&#45;liter or 5.7&#45;liter HEMI or 5.9&#45;liter Magnum&#174; Wedge &#8212; as well as manual or automatic transmission options.</p>
<p>
<strong>2010</strong>
<br/>The 2010 Dodge Challenger R&#47;T and Challenger R&#47;T Classic add even more performance and excitement with the Super Track Pack for the 2010 model years. This handling package includes 20&#45;inch Goodyear Eagle F1 Super Car tires&#44; front and rear Nivomat self&#45;leveling shock&#45;absorbers&#44; a larger rear stabilizer bar&#44; a 3.06 rear&#45;axle ratio&#44; performance brake linings and enthusiast&#45;desired &#34;ESC&#45;off&#34; stability calibration.</p>
<p>Even more exclusive&#44; and true to Challenger&#39;s high&#45;performance history are the 2010 Dodge Challenger R&#47;T Classic and SRT8 Detonator Yellow and Plum Crazy editions. The Dodge Challenger R&#47;T Classic in Plum Crazy Pearl Coat is the first limited&#45;edition to offer dual throwback A&#45;line body&#45;side R&#47;T stripes in matte black or new bright white&#44; while the SRT8 editions feature unique SRT&#45;designed appointments and unique SRT performance seats with accented stripe.</p>
<p>Two of the wildest and rarest 2010 Dodge Challenger special editions will soon be available to Dodge fans and collectors to celebrate 40 years of Dodge Challenger performance&#58; the 2010 Dodge Challenger R&#47;T Classic and Challenger SRT8 Furious Fuchsia editions. With Furious Fuchsia Pearl Coat exterior paint and all&#45;new Pearl White leather performance seats&#44; these limited&#45;edition Dodge Challengers deliver the best of modern American muscle&#45;car characteristics &#8212; now in one of the most significant hues.</p>]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">2010_2_10_Dodge_challenger_muscle_car_legend</guid><pubDate>February 10, 2010</pubDate><category>dodge_news dodge internal 2010 challenger</category><source url="http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news">Chrysler Media Services LLC</source><dc:subject name="Dodge News" category="System Tag">dodge_news</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Dodge" category="System Tag">dodge</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Recent News From" category="System Tag">internal</dc:subject><dc:subject name="2010" category="System Tag">2010</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Challenger" category="Dodge Vehicles">challenger</dc:subject></item>
<item><title>Ram Truck Brand Continues to Refine the Boldest, Most Powerful and Capable Lineup on the Planet</title><link>http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news/articles/?guid=2010_2_10_Dodge_ram_pickup_bold_powerful_capable</link><description><![CDATA[
<ul>
<li>Ram 1500 pickup continues to receive accolades for game&#45;changing design&#44; improved quality&#44; segment&#45;first features&#44; increased capability and best&#45;in&#45;class ride quality</li>
<li>All&#45;new 2010 Ram 2500 and 3500 Heavy Duty pickups begin to haul in awards</li>
<li>All&#45;new 2011 Ram 3500&#44; 4500 and 5500 Chassis Cabs to complete Ram Lineup</li>
</ul>
<p>Chicago&#44; Feb 10&#44; 2010  &#45;  With a work&#45;hard&#44; play&#45;hard attitude&#44; Ram Truck offers the boldest&#44; most powerful and capable pickup truck lineup in the business.</p>
<p>&#34;Ram Trucks continue to break the rules with big&#45;rig styling&#44; improved quality&#44; durability and capability&#44;&#34; said Fred Diaz&#44; President and Chief Executive Officer &#8212; Ram Truck Brand&#44; Chrysler Group LLC. &#34;Starting with the most award&#45;winning light&#45;duty pickup &#8212; our Ram 1500&#44; our all&#45;new ultimate towing machine and Motor Trend&#39;s Truck of the Year&#44; the 2010 Ram 2500&#47;3500 Heavy Duty and the all&#45;new 2011 Ram 3500&#44; 4500 and 5500 Chassis Cabs&#44; our trucks are the best on the planet.&#34;</p>
<p>Introduced in 2008&#44; the Ram 1500 is a game changer in terms of its ability to &#34;outsmart&#34; and &#34;out&#45;tough&#34; the competition with its bold exterior design&#44; crafted and refined interior&#44; engineering excellence&#44; superb innovation and best&#45;in&#45;class features&#44; amenities and ride quality.</p>
<p>The Ram 1500 also ranks at the top of Strategic Vision 2009 Total Quality Index&#8482; &#40;TQI&#41; in the full&#45;size truck segment. According to the survey&#44; the Ram 1500 leads the way with the highest Total Quality score of any truck in the 15&#45;year history of the study.</p>
<p>Customers specifically noted that the Ram 1500 has the best added storage capability along with the best truck interior ever rated by customers.</p>
<p>The Ram Truck brand adds to its award&#45;winning lineup with the recent introduction of its all&#45;new 2010 Ram 2500 and 3500 Heavy Duty trucks. The new heavy&#45;duty trucks provide customers with first&#45;time innovations and features&#44; along with new standards of strength&#44; utility and driveability&#44; building on the Ram&#39;s leadership in the heavy&#45;duty pickup segment.</p>
<p>Ram Truck will further enhance its commercial vehicle presence with the introduction of a &#34;new crew&#34; of commercial&#45;grade work trucks&#58; the all&#45;new 2011 Ram 3500&#44; 4500 and 5500 Chassis Cabs. Led by an all&#45;new crew cab&#44; the new 2011 Ram Chassis Cabs are built on a proven frame and chassis and engineered for maximum uptime&#44; optimum performance and enhanced commercial capability.</p>
<p>
<strong>Ram 1500 Pickup</strong>
<br/>In addition to winning Strategic Vision&#39;s TQI&#44; the Ram 1500 has earned 20 key awards since its introduction. Other awards include&#58;</p>
<ul>
<li>American Hunter Golden Bullseye Award &#8212; 2010 Vehicle of the Year </li>
<li>Automobile magazine &#8212; 2010 All&#45;Stars Ten Best </li>
<li>International Car of the Year &#40;ICOTY&#41; &#8212; 2009 International Truck of the Year </li>
<li>Texas Auto Writer&#39;s Association &#40;TAWA&#41; &#8212; 2009 Full&#45;Size Pickup Truck of Texas </li>
<li>Motorweek &#8212; Best Pickup Truck &#8212; 2009 </li>
<li>Maxim &#8212; Achievement in Party&#45;Enabling Technology &#40;RamBox&#41; </li>
<li>Edmunds&#39; Inside Line &#8212; A 2009 Editor&#39;s Most Wanted </li>
<li>Edmunds&#39; Inside Line &#8212; Best Full&#45;size Pickup Truck </li>
<li>Consumer Guide &#8212; Large Pickup &#8212; Best Buy for 2009 </li>
<li>Cars.com &#8212; Work Truck of the Year </li>
<li>Truckin&#39; magazine &#8212; Truck of the Year </li>
<li>Autobytel.com &#8212; 2009 MyRide&#47;Autobytel Editors&#39; Choice Awards &#8212; Truck of the Year </li>
<li>Ward&#39;s AutoWorld &#8212; Interior of the Year </li>
<li>Rocky Mountain Automotive Press Association &#8212; Truck of the Year </li>
<li>New England Motor Press Association &#40;NEMPA&#41; &#8212; Best&#45;in&#45;Class Pickup Award </li>
<li>Ward&#39;s AutoWorld &#8212; Ward&#39;s 10 Best Engines of 2009 &#40;2009 Ram 5.7&#45;liter HEMI&#174; engine&#41; </li>
<li>Automobile Journalists Association of Canada &#8212; Best New Pickup </li>
<li>AutoPacific&#39;s Vehicle Satisfaction Award </li>
<li>Sobre Ruedas &#8212; Sobre Ruedas Best Pickup Truck for &#39;08</li>
</ul>
<p>For 2010&#44; Ram 1500&#39;s towing capability has increased to 10&#44;450 pounds. Combining Ram&#39;s legendary 5.7&#45;liter HEMI&#174; V&#45;8 engine and the segment&#45;exclusive multi&#45;link coil spring rear suspension&#44; Gross Combined Weight Rating &#40;GCWR&#41; has increased to 15&#44;500 pounds&#44; from 14&#44;000 pounds&#44; with the 140.5&#45;inch wheelbase&#44; 5.7&#45;liter engine and 3.92 rear axle. This increased GCWR equates to an increase in tow rating. This improved rating&#44; along with Ram&#39;s industry&#45;first features and impressive ride and handling capabilities&#44; make Ram the most capable light&#45;duty pickup on the market.</p>
<p>The 2010 Ram incorporates a first&#45;in&#45;segment&#44; multi&#45;link coil spring rear suspension that improves ride and handling without sacrificing payload &#40;as much as 1&#44;900 pounds&#41; and towing capability &#40;as much as an estimated 10&#44;450 pounds&#41;.</p>
<p>New interior features include fuel&#45;saver indicator on 3.7&#45;liter models&#44; a new premium Tire&#45;pressure Monitoring &#40;TPM&#41; system and Park&#45;Assist indicator in the Electronic Vehicle Information Center &#40;EVIC&#41; display.</p>
<p>Other new features include an iPod&#174; Control that connects most iPod&#45;compatible devices using an iPod Control cable. The cable enables iPod devices to be controlled through Ram&#39;s media center radio or steering&#45;wheel radio controls.</p>
<p>New exterior features include available folding trailer&#45;tow mirrors&#44; integrated trailer&#45;brake controller&#44; power trailer&#45;tow mirrors&#44; electro&#45;chromic mirrors and new 22&#45;inch tires and wheels included in R&#47;T package.</p>
<p>Fuel economy enhancements for 2010 include interactive Decel Fuel Shut Off &#40;iDFSO&#41; on all engines. iDFSO turns off the flow of fuel during vehicle deceleration for improved real&#45;world fuel economy without any noticeable changes in engine performance.</p>
<p>The 2010 Ram Crew Cab 1500 features an available first&#45;in&#45;segment RamBox cargo management system that provides weatherproof&#44; lockable&#44; illuminated and drainable storage compartments integrated into both cargo&#45;box sides for effortless access and convenience. The RamBox system includes a bed divider&#47;2&#45;foot bed extender for oversize loads and a rail system with sliding&#44; adjustable cleats for infinitely adjustable tie&#45;down capability.</p>
<p>Ram 1500 is available in a regular cab&#44; Quad Cab and crew&#45;cab configuration and offers three box lengths&#58; 8&#45;foot &#40;regular cab&#41;&#44; 6&#45;foot 4&#45;inches &#40;regular cab and Quad Cab&#41;&#44; and 5&#45;foot 7&#45;inches &#40;Crew Cab&#41;. For 2010&#44; Ram 1500 is available in five distinct trim levels &#8212; ST&#44; SLT&#44; TRX&#44; Sport and Laramie.</p>
<p>
<strong>Ram 2500 and 3500 Heavy Duty</strong>
<br/>Building on the success of their award&#45;winning sibling the Ram 1500&#44; the Ram 2500 and 3500 Heavy Duty pickups are starting to haul in their own awards. Since its recent introduction&#44; the all&#45;new Ram 2500&#47;3500 Heavy Duty has received a number of prestigious awards including Motor Trend&#39;s &#34;2010 Truck of the Year&#34;&#44; Four Wheeler&#39;s &#34;Pickup Truck of the Year&#44;&#34; Four Wheeler magazine Most Influential 4x4s of the Decade &#40;2005&#45;2010 Ram Power Wagon&#41; and the Texas Auto Writers &#40;TAWA&#41; &#34;Heavy Duty Pickup Truck of Texas.&#34;</p>
<p>The 2010 Ram Heavy Duty brings increased capability and innovative new features to the heavy&#45;duty segment with an uncompromising attitude that remains the standard for all full&#45;size heavy&#45;duty pickups.</p>
<p>For 2010&#44; the Ram Heavy Duty is available for the first time in a crew&#45;size cab model&#44; providing Ram with a formidable entry in the highest&#45;volume part of the heavy&#45;duty pickup segment &#40;approximately 50 percent&#41;.</p>
<p>Ram Heavy Duty delivers the performance and amenities customers demand. The 2010 Ram Heavy Duty pickups feature a hydro&#45;formed&#44; fully boxed frame with advanced torsional rigidity and stiffness. A coil&#45;spring suspension setup is used up front&#44; while the multi&#45;leaf spring design is maintained in the rear for heavy&#45;duty capability. Front and rear shocks and springs are tuned for optimum ride quality and capability.</p>
<p>Improved suspension tuning and new C&#45;pillar hydro mounts were added to the 2010 Ram Heavy Duty models to improve damping through the frame&#45;bending mode frequency in order to better manage shake and after&#45;shake response. The result is reduced shake&#44; which means an improved ride for the customer.</p>
<p>The new 2010 Ram 2500 and 3500 pickups offer the only standard exhaust brake in the segment &#40;diesel&#45;equipped models only&#41;. This feature reduces brake fade&#44; prolongs brake life and provides confidence and safety when hauling heavy loads on downhill grades. Large front &#40;360 mm&#41; and rear &#40;358 mm&#41; brakes with integrated Anti&#45;lock Brake System &#40;ABS&#41; increase brake life and braking stability.</p>
<p>An available integrated trailer brake control provides better driver control in towing situations. Trailer brake control information is conveniently displayed in the Electronic Vehicle Information Center &#40;EVIC&#41;&#44; which is standard on all Ram Heavy Duty models equipped with a diesel engine and available on gas SLT&#44; TRX and Laramie models.</p>
<p>Customers in the heavy&#45;duty segment have a range of needs&#44; and most of them involve high levels of capability. The new 2010 Ram 2500 and 3500 are designed to deliver a total package&#58;</p>
<ul>
<li>Increased Gross Vehicle Weight Rating &#40;GVWR&#41; on 2500 4x4 crew cab diesel models to 9&#44;600 pounds from 9&#44;000 pounds</li>
<li>Increased Gross Combined Weight Rating &#40;GCWR&#41; on 3500 dually models with diesel&#44; auto transmission and 4.10 rear axle to 24&#44;500 pounds from 24&#44;000 pounds. With the Max Tow Package&#44; GCWR increases to 25&#44;400 pounds &#40;late availability&#41;</li>
<li>Increased GCWR on 3500 4x2 models to 24&#44;000 pounds from 23&#44;000 pounds</li>
<li>Increased front Gross Axle Weight Rating &#40;GAWR&#41; on several models&#58;<ul>
<li>To 5&#44;500 pounds from 5&#44;200 pounds on diesel 4x4 pickups</li>
<li>To 5&#44;000 pounds from 4&#44;700 pounds on diesel 4x2 pickups</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p>Other towing features include improved trailer&#45;tow mirrors with integrated turn signals&#44; memory function and puddle lamps. The larger 7&#45;in. x 11&#45;in. trailer&#45;tow mirrors offer improved visibility with larger convex glass surfaces. The mirrors flip up and out in a vertical configuration for improved visibility around wide trailers. Trailer&#45;tow mirrors are now standard on 3500. As an added convenience&#44; a Class IV receiver is now standard on all Ram 2500 and 3500 Heavy Duty pickups.</p>
<p>Ram Heavy Duty towing&#44; payload and axle capacity all have been increased for 2010. Suspension upgrades and larger front&#45;axle U&#45;joints&#44; combined with increased front GAWR&#44; result in increased front weight&#45;carrying capability &#8212; a must for larger snowplows.</p>
<p>The Ram Power Wagon also returns for the 2010 model year&#44; equipped with electric&#45;locking front and rear differentials&#44; electronic disconnecting sway bar&#44; Bilstein shocks&#44; 32&#45;inch BFGoodrich off&#45;road tires&#44; underbody skid plate protection&#44; 4.56 axle ratio for hill climbing and a custom&#45;built Warn&#174; 12&#44;000&#45;pound winch that is accessible through the front bumper. The 2010 Ram Power Wagon features new exterior graphics and a lower two&#45;tone paint scheme.</p>
<p>Powertrain choices include the legendary 6.7&#45;liter Cummins Turbo Diesel engine&#44; which produces 350 horsepower &#40;261 kW&#41; at 3&#44;000 rpm and 650 lb.&#45;ft. of torque &#40;881 N&#8901;m&#41; at only 1&#44;500 rpm.</p>
<p>The most durable and reliable engine in its class&#44; the 6.7&#45;liter Cummins Turbo Diesel features standard oil&#45;change intervals of 7&#44;500 miles. It also has major&#45;overhaul intervals of 350&#44;000 miles&#44; providing more than a 100&#44;000&#45;mile advantage versus the competition.</p>
<p>The Cummins 6.7&#45;liter Turbo Diesel engine uses a Diesel Particulate Filter &#40;DPF&#41; to virtually eliminate particulate matter emissions and an adsorber catalyst to reduce oxides of nitrogen &#40;NOx&#41; by as much as 90 percent&#44; in order to meet stringent 2010.5 diesel emissions requirements.</p>
<p>Ram Heavy Duty&#39;s DPF is a lower cost&#44; lower maintenance alternative to Diesel Emission Fluid &#40;DEF&#41; injection systems to be used by competitors.</p>
<p>The 2010 Ram Heavy Duty comes standard with the 5.7&#45;liter HEMI V&#45;8 gasoline engine&#44; delivering 383 horsepower &#40;286 kW&#41; at 5&#44;600 rpm and 400 lb.&#45;ft. of torque &#40;542 N&#8901;m&#41; at 4&#44;000 rpm. The 5.7&#45;liter HEMI was redesigned for 2009&#44; with several new and improved technologies including Variable&#45;valve Timing &#40;VVT&#41;&#44; increased compression ratio&#44; active intake manifold with long runners for low&#45;end torque and short runners for high&#45;rpm power&#44; improved cylinder head port flow efficiency and reduced&#45;restriction exhaust and induction systems.</p>
<p>The all&#45;new 2010 Ram Heavy Duty pickup was born from the same truck family that brought out the award&#45;winning Ram 1500&#44; Strategic Vision&#39;s Quality Award Winner.</p>
<p>The 2010 Ram Heavy Duty includes all&#45;new styling&#44; offering a tougher&#44; more capable look with improved aerodynamics and fit and finish. To accommodate cooling requirements of the 6.7&#45;liter Cummins Turbo Diesel engine&#44; the new 2010 Ram Heavy Duty grille opening is larger than the light&#45;duty grille. The larger grille mates to a taller hood that incorporates louvers on each side. Access to the front winch &#40;on Power Wagon models&#41; and tow hooks led to the unique front&#45;bumper design.</p>
<p>The new dual&#45;rear&#45;wheel fenders &#40;3500 dually only&#41; are now integrated into the box stamping and offer a smooth aerodynamic appearance.</p>
<p>
<strong>Ram 3500&#47;4500&#47;5500 Chassis Cab</strong>
<br/>Ram continues to enhance its commercial presence with the introduction of a &#34;new crew&#34; of commercial&#45;grade work trucks&#58; the new 2011 Ram 3500&#44; 4500 and 5500 Chassis Cabs. Led by an all&#45;new crew cab&#44; new 2011 Ram 3500&#44; 4500 and 5500 Chassis Cabs are built on a proven frame and chassis and engineered for maximum uptime&#44; optimum performance and enhanced commercial capability.</p>
<p>Ram 3500&#44; 4500 and 5500 Chassis Cabs compete within the Class 3&#45;5 segments with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating &#40;GVWR&#41; of 10&#44;200 to 19&#44;500 pounds and are targeted at small&#45;business tradesmen&#44; fleet customers and traditional chassis cab users.</p>
<p>The 2011 Ram 3500&#44; 4500 and 5500 Chassis Cabs offer the largest standard fuel tank &#40;52 gallons&#41;&#44; largest front&#45;brake rotors &#40;390 mm&#41; and calipers &#40;66 mm&#41; on the 4500&#47;5500 and a standard diesel&#45;exhaust brake.</p>
<p>Offered in regular cab&#44; crew cab&#44; single&#45;rear&#45;wheel &#40;3500 only&#41; and dual&#45;rear&#45;wheel models&#44; four cab&#45;axle lengths &#40;60&#44; 84&#44; 108 and 120 inches&#41; are available for 4500&#47;5500 models&#44; and two cab&#45;axle lengths &#40;60 and 84 inches&#41; are offered for the 3500 model. Three trim levels are offered&#58; ST&#44; SLT and Laramie.</p>
<p>The 2011 Ram 3500 models feature two axles with three axle ratios &#40;3.42&#44; 3.73 and 4.10&#41; and 17&#45;inch wheels&#44; while Ram 4500&#47;5500 models have one axle with three axle ratios &#40;4.10&#44; 4.44 and 4.88&#41; and 19.5&#45;inch wheels. All Ram Chassis Cab models are &#34;Job Rated&#44;&#34; meaning they are designed&#44; engineered&#44; tested and built to meet rigid standards of commercial truck buyers.</p>
<p>Improved standard features include a six&#45;speed manual transmission&#44; increased GVWR &#40;13&#44;000 pounds from 12&#44;500 pounds on 3500 diesel model&#41;&#44; an EVIC integrated into the instrument cluster&#44; four upfitter switches&#44; increased alternator size on diesel &#40;180&#45;amps&#41;&#44; automatic headlamps&#44; an upgraded HEMI engine&#44; second&#45;row headrests and rear heating&#44; ventilation and air conditioning &#40;HVAC&#41; ducts.</p>
<p>Ram&#39;s &#34;new crew&#34; of trucks are built on a road&#45;tested&#44; proven commercial&#45;grade frame and suspension system with best&#45;in&#45;class frame steel strength &#40;50&#44;000&#45;psi&#41;. Maintaining its common architecture for commercial applications&#44; the one&#45;piece C&#45;channel rear&#45;frame rail&#39;s riveted crossmembers provide more durability than traditional welds or bolts. In addition&#44; rivets allow for easy removal and&#47;or replacement of components during upfits and modifications.</p>
<p>Maximum upfit&#45;friendliness is achieved with industry&#45;standard 34&#45;inch frame&#45;rail spacing and flat&#44; clean frame rails on a proven one&#45;piece C&#45;channel rear&#45;frame rail boasting 50&#44;000&#45;psi steel strength &#40;best&#45;in&#45;class for 3500 model&#41;. All chassis components are below the frame surface allowing easy adaptability and versatility for virtually any upfit application.</p>
<p>Further improving upfitter&#45;friendliness&#44; new 2011 Ram 3500&#44; 4500 and 5500 Chassis Cabs feature four all&#45;new upfitter switches integrated on the instrument panel. Each of these four upfitter switches are linked to an auxiliary Power Distribution Center &#40;PDC&#41; located under the hood&#44; which includes one fused 20&#45;amp battery feed and one fused relay&#45;controlled 20&#45;amp ignition.</p>
<p>The legendary&#44; proven 6.7&#45;liter Cummins High&#45;Output Turbo Diesel is the benchmark for reliability and performance. The engine&#44; optional on Ram 3500 models and standard on 4500 and 5500 models&#44; offers best&#45;in&#45;class low end toque and generates 305 horsepower &#40;227 kW&#41; at 2&#44;900 rpm and 610 lb.&#45;ft. &#40;827 N&#8901;m&#41; of torque at 1&#44;600 rpm. Inherently reliable with fewer moving parts than competitive V&#45;8 diesel engines&#44; the Cummins engine delivers best&#45;in&#45;class fuel economy &#40;4500 and 5500 models&#41; and ensures commercial capability&#44; durability and low cost of ownership. With the Cummins 6.7&#45;liter Turbo Diesel&#44; an optional 3.42 axle ratio is available on the 2011 Ram 3500 Chassis Cab for improved fuel economy. Customers with serious trailer&#45;tow needs will enjoy Ram 3500&#39;s new optional 26&#44;000 lb GCWR on 6.7&#45;liter diesel manual trucks with a 4.10 axle ratio.</p>
<p>The 6.7&#45;liter Cummins features a factory&#45;installed segment&#45;exclusive exhaust brake. The Cummins design works with the Variable&#45;geometry Turbocharger &#40;VGT&#41; and offers multiple benefits including reduced brake wear and longer brake life&#44; which may lengthen service intervals&#44; and enhanced safety benefits including increased braking effectiveness and greater control of the vehicle.</p>
<p>The 6.7&#45;liter engine is cleaner&#44; with a reduction in particulates and nitrogen oxide &#40;NOx&#41; that comply with both 50&#45;state heavy&#45;duty emission standards and 2010 diesel emissions compliance thanks to an all&#45;new diesel exhaust fluid injection system with urea injection Selective Catalyst Reduction &#40;SCR&#41; technology.</p>
<p>Cummins diesel&#45;equipped chassis cabs are in full compliance with stringent new emissions&#45;at&#45;idle laws&#44; with the distinction that Ram is the only brand to offer a 50&#45;state emissions package and exterior label allowing drivers to idle without time restrictions in California and other Air Resource Board &#40;ARB&#41; states. This is a no&#45;cost option.</p>
<p>The new 2011 Ram 3500 Chassis Cab comes standard with a new&#45;generation 5.7&#45;liter HEMI V&#45;8 with Variable&#45;valve Timing &#40;VVT&#41; that will appeal to customers who require a gas engine. Providing more power and torque with better fuel economy&#44; the engine incorporates a 9&#45;percent higher compression ratio &#40;10.5&#58;1&#41;&#44; Variable&#45;valve Timing and an active intake&#45;manifold. These technologies&#44; combined with engine and powertrain integration improvements&#44; result in a 4 percent improvement in fuel economy&#44; improved idle quality and overall refinement. HEMI&#45;powered 2011 Ram 3500 Chassis Cabs are rated at 383 horsepower &#40;286 kW&#41; at 5&#44;600 rpm and 400 lb.&#45;ft. &#40;542 N&#8901;m&#41; of torque at 4&#44;000 rpm.</p>
<p>Completing the package&#44; Ram 3500&#44; 4500 and 5500 Chassis Cabs offer a proven six&#45;speed Aisin automatic transmission &#40;complete with a 3&#45;year&#47;180&#44;000&#45;mile warranty&#41; with Power Take&#45;Off &#40;PTO&#41; capability or a six&#45;speed manual transmission with PTO capability. The proven commercial&#45;grade six&#45;speed automatic is a completely electronically controlled transmission that features excellent shift quality &#40;using advanced electro&#45;hydraulic clutch&#45;to&#45;clutch control&#41; and close gear ratios with static and mobile PTO capability. With outstanding shift performance and more control&#44; the six&#45;speed manual transmission achieves a high&#45;ratio sixth gear for longer highway cruising. An available electronic&#45;shift transfer case is offered also on SLT and Laramie models.</p>
<p>The Aisin six&#45;speed automatic transmission includes two significant enhancements to the PTO function. The torque converter locks up in PTO mode for better fuel economy and speed control while using aerial lifts and air compressors. Customers also have the ability to program a precise engine RPM that is activated immediately when the PTO is engaged. This eliminates the need to toggle up to the desired engine RPM.</p>
<p>For the 2011 Ram 3500 Chassis Cab&#44; larger front axle U&#45;joints were developed&#44; and front GAWR was increased on diesel trucks to 5&#44;500 pounds from 5&#44;200. This results in increased front weight&#45;carrying capability&#44; allowing the use of larger snowplows.</p>
<p>Engineered to deliver precise feel and response for better handling&#44; the new 2011 Ram Chassis Cab&#39;s steering and suspension system boast superb strength with a focus on improved load capacity&#44; increased durability and refined handling. Two&#45;wheel&#45;drive and four&#45;wheel&#45;drive models feature a recirculating ball system that provides precise response and an on&#45;center steering feel through lower internal friction.</p>
<p>Featuring solid front and rear axles and a five&#45;link&#44; coil&#45;spring front suspension with solid axle&#44; a front and rear link&#45;type sway bar and heavy&#45;duty tubular shock absorbers are standard. The rear suspension on two&#45; and four&#45;wheel&#45;drive models is equipped with leaf springs and includes standard two&#45;stage springs as part of the design for greater load&#45;carrying capability and better ride with light loads.</p>
<p>Large external mirrors are new for 2011&#44; giving drivers a more useable area while improving aerodynamics and minimizing wind noise. Larger&#44; 7&#45;in. x 11&#45;in. mirrors for trailer towing are standard. Mirrors flip up and out into a vertical configuration for trailer&#45;tow use.</p>
<p>Interior design elements include a balance of work truck functionality and&#44; as desired&#44; refined&#44; upscale comfort. Interior comfort and convenience features include all&#45;new heated and ventilated seats&#44; heated steering wheel&#44; memory functions&#44; automatic temperature control&#44; express&#45;up&#47;down windows and upper and lower glove boxes. Redesigned seats are significantly more comfortable with more surface area and improved lumbar and lateral support. Interiors feature soft&#45;feel door bolsters and armrests and one&#45;piece molded door panels. The center stack is designed for optimum placement of controls in the most intuitive and comfortable locations.</p>
<p>Storage is top&#45;of&#45;mind for those who use their truck as an office. A new&#45;for&#45;2011 available center console features an upper bin that is large enough to hold a laptop computer &#40;with an accessible power outlet&#41; and a lower bin that accommodates hanging files. In addition&#44; the console offers several other storage compartments.</p>
<p>Other storage locations are built into the instrument panel&#44; front and rear&#45;door panels and seat backs. Upper and lower glove boxes provide a total of more than 800 cubic&#45;inches of storage.</p>
<p>With a network of more than 400 dealers&#44; Dodge BusinessLink features dedicated commercial account managers and sales teams&#44; priority next&#45;bay service and maintenance&#44; extended hours&#44; free loaner vehicles and inventories with a higher mix of work trucks and commercial vehicles. Dodge&#39;s &#34;On The Job&#34; program offers discounts on upfits&#44; cash incentives and other customer savings.</p>
<p>
<strong>About Ram Brand</strong>
<br/>With a work&#45;hard&#44; play&#45;hard attitude&#44; the Ram Truck brand offers the boldest&#44; most powerful and capable pickup truck lineup on the planet.</p>
<p>The Ram Truck brand will add to its award&#45;winning truck lineup with the recently introduced all&#45;new 2010 Ram 2500 and 3500 Heavy Duty trucks&#44; Motor Trend&#39;s Truck of the Year. The new heavy&#45;duty trucks provide customers with first&#45;time innovations and features along with new standards of strength&#44; utility and driveability&#44; building on the Ram&#39;s leadership in the heavy&#45;duty pickup segment.</p>
<p>Introduced in 2008&#44; the Ram 1500 is a game changer in terms of its ability to &#34;outsmart&#34; and &#34;out&#45;tough&#34; the competition with its bold exterior design&#44; crafted and refined interior&#44; engineering excellence&#44; superb innovation and best&#45;in&#45;class features and amenities. The Ram 1500 also ranks at the top of Strategic Vision Inc.&#39;s &#40;SVI&#41; 2009 Total Quality Index&#8482; &#40;TQI&#41; in the full&#45;size truck segment. According to the survey&#44; the Ram 1500 leads the way with the highest Total Quality score of any truck in the 15&#45;year history of the study. Customers specifically noted that the Ram has the best added storage capability along with the best truck interior ever rated by customers.</p>
<p>The Ram Truck brand will further enhance its commercial vehicle presence with the introduction of a &#34;new crew&#34; of commercial&#45;grade work trucks&#58; the new 2011 Ram 3500&#44; 4500 and 5500 Chassis Cabs. Led by an all&#45;new crew cab&#44; the new 2011 Ram Chassis Cabs are built on a proven frame and chassis&#44; and engineered for maximum uptime&#44; optimum performance and enhanced commercial capability.</p>]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">2010_2_10_Dodge_ram_pickup_bold_powerful_capable</guid><pubDate>February 10, 2010</pubDate><category>dodge_news dodge internal 2010 trucks ram ram_chassis_cab</category><source url="http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news">Chrysler Media Services LLC</source><dc:subject name="Dodge News" category="System Tag">dodge_news</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Dodge" category="System Tag">dodge</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Recent News From" category="System Tag">internal</dc:subject><dc:subject name="2010" category="System Tag">2010</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Trucks" category="Automotive">trucks</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Ram" category="Dodge Vehicles">ram</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Ram Chassis Cab" category="Dodge Vehicles">ram_chassis_cab</dc:subject></item>
<item><title>Dodge: The Full-of-Life Brand Delivers More Style, Capability and Value</title><link>http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news/articles/?guid=2010_2_10_Dodge_brand_style_capability_value</link><description><![CDATA[
<p>Chicago&#44; Feb 10&#44; 2010  &#45;  The Dodge brand is charging into the 2010 Chicago Auto Show with two more repackaged model lineups. In addition to the newly upgraded 2010 Dodge Caliber&#44; Avenger&#44; Journey and Nitro packages introduced at the North American International Auto Show in January&#44; the Dodge Car brand is showcasing the new Dodge Grand Caravan and Dodge Charger lifestyle packages&#44; as well as celebrating 40 years of the Dodge Challenger with all&#45;new Furious Fuchsia R&#47;T Classic and SRT8&#174; editions at this year&#39;s Chicago Auto Show.</p>
<p>&#34;We continue to inject excitement and upgrades into the Dodge lineup&#44; and the momentum continues with the introduction of the new 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan and Charger lifestyle packages&#44; which better match our owners&#39; lifestyles&#44;&#34; said Ralph Gilles&#44; President and CEO &#8212; Dodge Brand&#44; Chrysler Group LLC. &#34;This is just the beginning as we continue to evaluate our customers&#39; needs and deliver Dodge products that offer up outstanding value propositions through more accessible combinations of class&#45;leading innovation&#44; thoughtful features&#44; safety&#44; technology&#44; more power&#44; style and ultimately driving excitement.&#34;</p>
<p>The entire lineup of 2010 Dodge brand lifestyle packages will arrive at Dodge dealerships nationwide in the spring of 2010.</p>
<p>
<strong>All&#45;new Hero Model Delivers More Performance and Expressive Styling to the 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan Lineup</strong>
<br/>The Dodge Grand Caravan &#8212; the original family room on wheels with more than 26 years of unsurpassed leadership and more than 12 million vehicles sold &#8212; offers customers a new performance&#45;focused and tech&#45;savvy minivan&#44; packaged with even more features that are designed to add value and meet the different lifestyle needs of every family.</p>
<p>For the young family seeking convenience&#44; utility and affordability&#44; the all&#45;new 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan Hero model features a powerful 3.8&#45;liter V&#45;6 engine with 197 horsepower &#40;147 kW&#41; and a six&#45;speed Auto Stick transmission. Based on the Dodge Grand Caravan SE model&#44; the new Dodge Grand Caravan Hero adds more standard equipment&#44; including the minivan&#45;first Stow &#96;N Go&#174; seating and storage system&#44; 16&#45;inch aluminum wheels&#44; Electronic Stability Control &#40;ESC&#41;&#44; power&#45;adjustable heated mirrors&#44; side&#45;curtain air bags&#44; tri&#45;zone climate control&#44; sunscreen glass&#44; power second&#45; and third&#45;row vents&#44; roof rack&#44; Satin Silver center bezel&#44; leather&#45;wrapped steering wheel and shifter knob&#44; steering&#45;wheel&#45;mounted audio controls&#44; six&#45;speaker sound and SIRIUS Satellite Radio. Entertainment Group I&#44; which features a 9&#45;inch overhead DVD screen&#44; Media Center&#8482; 430 touch&#45;screen radio with 30&#45;gigabyte hard drive and Parkview&#174; rear back&#45;up camera&#44; also is available.</p>
<p>
<strong>New 2010 Dodge Charger Models&#58; More Power&#44; Value and Refinement</strong>
<br/>Delivering more excitement&#44; functionality and value&#44; the 2010 Dodge Charger offers several all&#45;new packages targeted at individual lifestyles and upgraded with more popular customer features&#44; including available all&#45;wheel&#45;drive capability across the model lineup at a more affordable price.</p>
<p>Dodge has taken &#34;base model&#34; out of its vocabulary. Compared with its previous lineup&#44; the new entry&#45;level Dodge Charger 3.5 model gives customers looking for style&#44; convenience and affordability a slew of standard features&#44; including 40 percent more standard power from a 24&#45;valve 3.5&#45;liter V&#45;6 engine&#44; ESC&#44; Anti&#45;lock Brake System &#40;ABS&#41;&#44; all&#45;speed traction control&#44; SIRIUS Satellite Radio&#44; eight&#45;way power driver seat&#44; 60&#47;40 split&#45;fold rear seat and chromed crosshair grille.</p>
<p>For customers looking for more all&#45;weather capability and value&#44; the 2010 Dodge Charger 3.5 AWD includes all the standard features of the rear&#45;wheel&#45;drive model and adds an advanced all&#45;wheel&#45;drive system. The Dodge Charger&#39;s all&#45;wheel&#45;drive system features an active transfer case and exclusive front&#45;axle disconnect for maximum efficiency. No other major manufacturer offers these two independent technologies together. The unique system seamlessly transitions between rear&#45;wheel drive and all&#45;wheel drive with no driver intervention. When all&#45;wheel drive is not required&#44; the system automatically disconnects the front axle to maximize fuel economy&#44; while still delivering the outstanding performance and handling inherent in rear&#45;wheel drive.</p>
<p>Delivering solid performance&#44; handling and utility&#44; the all&#45;new 2010 Dodge Charger Rallye model gives customers who require efficiency&#44; more aggressive styling and improved on&#45;road handling than the model it replaces. The all&#45;new Dodge Charger Rallye includes a 3.5&#45;liter V&#45;6 engine&#44; touring&#45;tuned suspension&#44; 18&#45;inch aluminum wheels&#44; rear sway bar and rear deck&#45;lid spoiler. For even more style&#44; 20&#45;inch chrome&#45;clad aluminum wheels with P245&#47;45R20 Goodyear Eagle RS&#45;A all&#45;season performance tires are available.</p>
<p>For customers who want even more comfort and convenience with great tunes&#44; the all&#45;new Rallye Chrome &#38; Leather package includes all the features of the Dodge Charger Rallye model and adds Royale leather seats&#44; 18&#45;inch chrome&#45;clad aluminum wheels&#44; power leather&#45;trimmed heated front seats&#44; leather&#45;wrapped steering wheel and shift knob&#44; dual&#45;zone automatic temperature control&#44; automatic headlamps&#44; express&#45;up&#47;down front windows and Boston Acoustics six&#45;speaker system with 276&#45;watt Digital Signal Processing &#40;DSP&#41; amplifier. All&#45;wheel drive with active transfer case and front&#45;axle disconnect is available.</p>
<p>With its performance&#44; handling&#44; technology and legendary 5.7&#45;liter HEMI&#174; V&#45;8 engine with fuel&#45;saving Multi&#45;displacement System &#40;MDS&#41; technology&#44; the new 368 horsepower &#40;274 kW&#41; 2010 Dodge Charger R&#47;T is the very definition of an authentic&#44; modern&#44; muscle sedan. New standard equipment in the Dodge Charger R&#47;T includes the Media Center 430 touch&#45;screen radio with 30&#45;gigabyte hard drive for media storage&#44; iPod&#174; Control&#44; Uconnect&#8482; Phone for hands&#45;free calling&#44; auto&#45;dimming rearview mirror and rear deck&#45;lid spoiler. Available options include 20&#45;inch chrome&#45;clad aluminum wheels with all&#45;season performance tires and Dodge Charger&#39;s exclusive all&#45;wheel&#45;drive system with active transfer case and front&#45;axle disconnect.</p>
<p>For the customer who demands power and technology with premium audio&#44; the new 2010 Dodge Charger with R&#47;T Chrome &#38; Tunes package includes the equipment from the Dodge Charger R&#47;T and adds 18&#45;inch chrome&#45;clad wheels&#44; security alarm&#44; Electronic Vehicle Information Center &#40;EVIC&#41;&#44; &#34;Fuel&#45;saver Mode&#34; display&#44; steering&#45;wheel&#45;mounted audio controls&#44; HomeLink universal transceiver&#44; remote start&#44; LED&#45;illuminated cup holders and door map pockets&#44; and a 5.1&#45;channel Boston Acoustics eight&#45;speaker audio system with 368&#45;watt Digital Signal Processing &#40;DSP&#41; amp. Available options include 20&#45;inch chrome&#45;clad aluminum wheels with all&#45;season performance tires and Dodge Charger&#39;s exclusive all&#45;wheel&#45;drive system with active transfer case and front&#45;axle disconnect.</p>
<p>With 372 horsepower &#40;277 kW&#41; and 400 lb.&#45;ft. &#40;542 N&#8901;m&#41; of torque&#44; the R&#47;T Super Track Pack handling package adds maximum driving excitement to the popular R&#47;T Road &#38; Track package and includes 20&#45;inch Goodyear Eagle F1 Super Car tires&#44; front and rear Nivomat self&#45;leveling shock&#45;absorbers&#44; a larger rear&#45;stabilizer bar&#44; a 3.06 rear&#45;axle ratio and less&#45;intrusive ESC.</p>
<p>
<strong>Furious Fuchsia Celebrates Four Decades Of Dodge Challenger Performance</strong>
<br/>Two of the wildest and rarest 2010 Dodge Challenger special editions will soon be available to Dodge fans and collectors to commemorate 40 years of Dodge Challenger performance&#58; the 2010 Dodge Challenger R&#47;T Classic and Challenger SRT8&#174; Furious Fuchsia editions. With Furious Fuchsia Pearl Coat exterior paint and all&#45;new Pearl White leather performance seats&#44; these limited&#45;edition Dodge Challengers deliver the best of modern American muscle&#45;car characteristics &#8212; unmistakable design&#44; world&#45;class handling&#44; powerful HEMI V&#45;8 engines and technology &#8212; now in one of the most significant hues.</p>
<p>Based on the powerful 2010 Dodge Challenger R&#47;T&#44; the Dodge Challenger R&#47;T Classic Furious Fuchsia edition features dual throwback A&#45;line body&#45;side R&#47;T stripes in Matte Black or Bright White. Completing the look are &#34;Challenger&#34; fender badges in classic script&#44; large 20&#45;inch polished&#45;aluminum heritage wheels with all&#45;season performance tires&#44; classic egg&#45;crate grille with heritage &#34;R&#47;T&#34; badge&#44; body&#45;color rear spoiler&#44; functional hood scoop and bright racing style fuel&#45;filler door.</p>
<p>On the interior&#44; the trapezoidal theme of the door panel and gauge cluster&#44; dark headliner and slanted shifter console are inspired by the original Dodge Challenger. Inspiration from the past continues with exclusive Pearl White performance seats accented with Dark Slate Gray and Furious Fuchsia French&#45;seamed stitching as a factory&#45;installed option. Monotone Dark Slate Gray leather performance seats and center console armrest with Furious Fuchsia accent stitching are standard.</p>
<p>When paired with the Tremec six&#45;speed manual transmission&#44; the 2010 Dodge Challenger R&#47;T Classic Furious Fuchsia edition includes the performance&#45;minded Track Pak with precision&#45;shift &#34;pistol&#45;grip&#34; shifter&#44; anti&#45;spin 3.92 differential and a performance&#45;tuned dual exhaust with two low&#45;restriction bottle resonators for maximum &#34;throatiness.&#34; And when it&#39;s time to deliver&#44; the Furious Fuchsia R&#47;T Classic can accelerate from 0&#45;60 mph in less than 6 seconds with its powerful 376 horsepower &#40;280 kW&#41; and 410 lb.&#45;ft. of torque &#40;556 N&#8901;m&#41; 5.7&#45;liter HEMI V&#45;8 engine. U.S. Manufacturer&#39;s Suggested Retail Price &#40;MSRP&#41; for the 2010 Dodge Challenger R&#47;T Classic Furious Fuchsia edition is &#36;35&#44;140 &#40;including &#36;725 destination&#41;.</p>
<p>If the tire&#45;smoking Furious Fuchsia R&#47;T Classic is not exciting enough&#44; the 400 ultra&#45;exclusive 2010 Dodge Challenger SRT8 versions deliver even more punch with a 6.1&#45;liter HEMI V&#45;8 engine &#8212; with engine block lacquered in original HEMI Orange paint &#8212; producing 425 horsepower &#40;317 kW&#41; and 420 lb.&#45;ft. &#40;569 N&#8901;m&#41; of torque&#44; performance&#45;tuned ride and handling&#44; benchmark braking and race&#45;inspired interior with unique SRT&#45;designed appointments.</p>
<p>The limited&#45;production Dodge Challenger SRT8 in Furious Fuchsia is based on the 2010 Dodge Challenger SRT8 and features several standard equipment upgrades&#44; including all&#45;new Pearl White leather SRT performance seats with Furious Fuchsia accented stripe&#44; unique 20&#45;inch SRT forged&#45;aluminum wheels with Satin Black accents&#44; serialized dash plaque indicating the limited production series of 400 and retro&#45;inspired chromed quad&#45;exhaust tips. MSRP for the 2010 Dodge Challenger SRT8 Furious Fuchsia edition is &#36;45&#44;150 &#40;including &#36;725 destination&#41;.</p>
<p>Both Furious Fuchsia editions will be available for order at Dodge dealerships nationwide in March with production starting May 2010.</p>
<p>
<strong>New 2010 Dodge Journey Models&#58; More Capability&#44; Value and Refinement</strong>
<br/>Delivering more excitement&#44; functionality and value&#44; the 2010 Dodge Journey Crew model is packed with upgraded features to give customers everything they need at a value they can afford.</p>
<p>A true family vehicle loaded with comfort&#44; premium amenities and refinement &#8212; the new 2010 Dodge Journey Crew adds even more features to the already well&#45;equipped Dodge Journey SXT model&#44; including the 5&#43;2 Flexible Seating Group for seven&#45;passenger seating&#44; rear&#45;zone climate control&#44; premium gauge cluster&#44; chromed interior accents&#44; SIRIUS Satellite Radio&#44; auto&#45;dimming rearview mirror&#44; remote start&#44; Electronic Vehicle Information Center &#40;EVIC&#41;&#44; HomeLink universal transceiver and six premium speakers with subwoofer. In addition to its 3.5&#45;liter V&#45;6 engine with six&#45;speed Auto Stick transmission&#44; the Dodge Journey Crew package features 19&#45;inch chromed aluminum wheels with all&#45;season tires and performance&#45;tuned suspension. MSRP for the 2010 Dodge Journey Crew is &#36;27&#44;495 &#40;including &#36;675 destination&#41;.</p>
<p>For luxury&#45;minded customers who want it all&#44; the Dodge Journey R&#47;T now adds even more standard capability and comfort with the leather&#45;trimmed 5&#43;2 Flexible Seating Group for seven&#45;passenger seating and rear&#45;zone climate control. MSRP for the 2010 Dodge Journey R&#47;T is &#36;28&#44;470 &#40;including &#36;675 destination&#41;.</p>
<p>All six&#45;cylinder Dodge Journey models offer all&#45;weather AWD capability with an Electronically&#45;controlled Coupling &#40;ECC&#41; for instant torque transfer to the rear wheels when needed. The ECC delivers up to 50&#58;50 front&#47;rear torque bias for maximum all&#45;weather traction.</p>
<p>The 2010 Dodge Journey is a 2010 Top Safety Pick according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety &#40;IIHS&#41;.</p>
<p>
<strong>2010 Dodge Caliber&#58; All&#45;new Interior and New Model Lineup</strong>
<br/>The Dodge Car brand&#39;s compact car gets an all&#45;new refined interior for 2010. Executed with premium materials and detailed craftsmanship&#44; Caliber has an all&#45;new instrument panel design that features a more integrated look and improved ergonomics.</p>
<p>New for 2010 are an additional cubby storage space&#44; center storage bin&#44; larger climate controls and seamless passenger airbag cover. Bright Satin Silver accents add contrast to Dodge Caliber&#39;s interior design&#44; while chromed accents brighten heating&#44; ventilation and air conditioning &#40;HVAC&#41; vents&#44; shift bezel&#44; door handles and cluster rings. New door&#45;trim panels and center console with armrest split&#45;lid feature padded soft&#45;touch materials for improved passenger comfort.</p>
<p>In addition&#44; the new 2010 Dodge Caliber features new lifestyle&#45;oriented models &#40;Express&#44; Mainstreet&#44; Heat&#44; Uptown and Rush&#41; bundled with more features.</p>
<p>For customers looking for efficiency and value&#44; the new 2010 Dodge Caliber Express delivers with standard Uconnect Phone&#44; iPod Control&#44; auto&#45;dimming rearview mirror&#44; SIRIUS Satellite Radio&#44; power windows&#44; mirrors and locks&#44; 115&#45;volt power outlet&#44; cruise control&#44; remote keyless entry&#44; tonneau cover&#44; air conditioning&#44; four&#45;wheel Anti&#45;lock Brake System &#40;ABS&#41; and 2.0&#45;liter 16&#45;valve World Gas Engine with fuel&#45;efficient five&#45;speed manual transmission capable of 31 mpg on the highway. MSRP for the 2010 Dodge Caliber Express is &#36;17&#44;510 &#40;including &#36;630 destination&#41;.</p>
<p>The new Dodge Caliber Mainstreet offers the features of the Dodge Caliber Express with added capability and style featuring standard 17&#45;inch aluminum wheels&#44; chromed crosshair grille&#44; body&#45;color door handles&#44; fog lamps&#44; folding front&#45;passenger seat&#44; 60&#47;40 split&#45;folding and reclining rear seat&#44; touring suspension&#44; tachometer and 2.0&#45;liter 16&#45;valve World Gas Engine with second&#45;generation Continuously Variable Transmission &#40;CVT2&#41;. MSRP for the 2010 Dodge Caliber Mainstreet is &#36;18&#44;690 &#40;including &#36;630 destination&#41;.</p>
<p>For customers looking for capability combined with added technology and refinement&#44; the new Dodge Caliber Uptown adds automatic climate control&#44; heated front seats&#44; five&#45;passenger leather seating&#44; power driver&#39;s seat and four&#45;wheel Anti&#45;lock disc Brakes &#40;ABS&#41; to the Caliber Mainstreet. The Premium Sound Group kicks&#45;up the tunes with the MusicGate Power&#8482; nine&#45;speaker Boston Acoustics system&#44; steering&#45;wheel&#45;mounted audio controls and two articulating liftgate speakers. MSRP for the 2010 Dodge Caliber Uptown is &#36;20&#44;625 &#40;including &#36;630 destination&#41;.</p>
<p>Compact car buyers looking for a sportier ride have two options from which to choose. The all&#45;new Dodge Caliber Heat model takes the Caliber Mainstreet model and adds a sport&#45;tuned suspension&#44; 18&#45;inch polished&#45;aluminum wheels&#44; four&#45;wheel Anti&#45;lock disc Brakes &#40;ABS&#41;&#44; performance steering&#44; color&#45;keyed instrument panel and seats&#44; B&#45; and C&#45;pillar blackout accents and five&#45;speed manual transmission. MSRP for the 2010 Dodge Caliber Heat is &#36;18&#44;625 &#40;including &#36;630 destination&#41;.</p>
<p>And for more power&#44; Dodge Caliber Rush includes a unique five&#45;speed manual transmission mated to a larger 2.4&#45;liter World Gas Engine with 172 horsepower &#40;128 kW&#41; and 165 ft.&#45;lb. &#40;224 N&#8901;m&#41; of torque. Equipment differences from the Caliber Heat include 18&#45;inch chrome&#45;clad wheels&#44; SRT&#45;designed spoiler&#44; automatic climate control&#44; Premium Sound Group&#44; Media Center 430 radio with touchscreen and 30&#45;gigabyte hard drive. A CVT2 with Auto Stick is optional. MSRP for the 2010 Dodge Caliber Rush is &#36;20&#44;625 &#40;including &#36;630 destination&#41;.</p>
<p>
<strong>All&#45;new Dodge Nitro Model Lineup Gives More Bang for Your Buck</strong>
<br/>The Dodge Nitro lineup has been revised and renamed for 2010&#44; offering new exterior and interior styling and new standard features and safety and security equipment for 2010. These new models &#40;Heat&#44; Detonator and Shock&#41; provide Nitro customers with more standard content and style with 20&#45;inch aluminum wheels&#44; sunscreen glass and monochromatic exterior paint.</p>
<p>The all&#45;new 2010 Dodge Nitro Heat adds to the previous entry&#45;level model with 20&#45;inch aluminum wheels&#44; body&#45;color grille with bright billets&#44; sunscreen glass and monochromatic exterior paint. The quality&#45;proven 3.7&#45;liter V&#45;6 engine delivering 210 horsepower &#40;157 kW&#41; and 235 lb.&#45;ft. &#40;319 N&#8901;m&#41; of torque is available in 4x2 and 4x4 models. MSRP for the 2010 Dodge Nitro Heat 4x2 is &#36;22&#44;335 &#40;including &#36;745 destination&#41;.</p>
<p>The Dodge Nitro Detonator packs a punch with 23 percent more horsepower and 12 percent more torque than the Dodge Nitro Heat model. With its standard aluminum 4.0&#45;liter overhead cam V&#45;6 engine&#44; the Nitro Detonator delivers 260 horsepower &#40;194 kW&#41; and 265 lb.&#45;ft. &#40;359 N&#8901;m&#41; of torque to the road with a five&#45;speed automatic transmission. The new Dodge Nitro Detonator model features 20&#45;inch platinum&#45;clad aluminum wheels&#44; eight premium speakers with subwoofer&#44; remote start and Parksense&#174; rear&#45;park assist. MSRP for the 2010 Dodge Nitro Detonator 4x2 is &#36;26&#44;495 &#40;including &#36;745 destination&#41;.</p>
<p>The Dodge Nitro Shock adds unique 20&#45;inch aluminum premium&#45;painted wheels&#44; heated leather seats and a sun roof to the Nitro Detonator model. MSRP for the 2010 Dodge Nitro Shock 4x2 is &#36;27&#44;495 &#40;including &#36;745 destination&#41;.</p>
<p>The new 2010 Dodge Nitro lineup is now available in nine exterior colors&#44; including Detonator Yellow Clear Coat &#40;late availability&#41;.</p>
<p>
<strong>New 2010 Dodge Avenger SXT Express Package is Loaded with Value</strong>
<br/>The new Express package available on the 2010 Dodge Avenger SXT enhances the sedan&#39;s aggressive Dodge styling&#44; adds to its innovative interior features and continues to deliver high levels of reliability and excellent fuel efficiency of 30 miles per gallon &#40;mpg&#41; on the highway.</p>
<p>The all&#45;new Dodge Avenger SXT with the Express package delivers even more customer value on top of the current SXT model&#39;s list of standard features. This new package includes power driver&#39;s seat&#44; heated premium cloth seats&#44; heated exterior mirrors&#44; leather&#45;wrapped steering wheel and shift knob&#44; chromed interior accents&#44; Media Center 430 radio with touchscreen and 30&#45;gigabyte hard drive&#44; steering&#45;wheel&#45;mounted audio controls&#44; six speakers&#44; 17&#45;inch aluminum wheels&#44; chromed crosshair grille and 2.4&#45;liter World Gas Engine with automatic transmission. MSRP for the 2010 Dodge Avenger SXT with Express package is &#36;21&#44;970 &#40;including &#36;740 destination&#41;.</p>
<p>The 2010 Dodge Avenger equipped with ESC is a 2010 Top Safety Pick according to the IIHS.</p>
<p>
<strong>The Ultimate American Performance Car Icon&#58; Dodge Viper SRT10</strong>
<br/>For the final year of production for the current generation Dodge Viper SRT10&#44; Dodge plans to deliver a vehicle lineup like no other since the introduction of the iconic American sports car in 1992.</p>
<p>The heart of the 2010 Dodge Viper SRT10 remains the venerable 8.4&#45;liter &#40;510 cu. in.&#41; V&#45;10 engine that produces 600 &#40;450 kW&#41; horsepower and 560 lb.&#45;ft. &#40;760 N&#8901;m&#41; of torque. Benchmark performance numbers&#44; including 0&#45;60 mph in less than 4 seconds&#44; quarter&#45;mile time in the mid 11&#45;second range and 0&#45;100&#45;0 mph in 11 seconds flat and a top speed of 202 mph&#44; continue to prove how the serious&#44; race&#45;inspired&#44; street&#45;legal two&#45;seater performs without apology.</p>
<p>Body style offerings remain unchanged with the availability of Roadster and Coupe models along with the ACR &#40;American Club Racer&#41; package. Approximately 500 vehicles will be built for the 2010 model year.</p>
<p>With the introduction of two new exterior colors &#8212; Toxic Orange Pearl Coat and Bright Silver Metallic Clear Coat &#8212; Dodge Viper SRT10 is now available in 12 different colors&#44; the most regularly available choices in one model year. And with six stripe options in the new wider configuration&#44; five different interior color combinations&#44; four different wheel choices and three available interior bezels; the 2010 Viper SRT10 will be available in more than 7&#44;600 combinations &#8212; the most for any one model year &#8212; significantly adding to the exclusivity of each car like never before.</p>
<p>New across the Viper lineup is a shorter fifth&#45;gear ratio &#40;changing from 0.74 to 0.80&#41; for improved high&#45;speed acceleration and higher straightaway speeds. Acceleration from 0&#45;200 mph has improved by 14 seconds. This improvement is a direct result of the Chrysler Group LLC Street and Racing Technology team&#39;s experience at the 12.9&#45;mile N&#252;rburgring Nordschleife circuit in Germany&#44; where during the lap&#45;record run in 2008&#44; it was found that a revised gear ratio would have resulted in higher top gear acceleration and a quicker lap time.</p>
<p>
<strong>Viper SRT10 ACR</strong>
<br/>The Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR receives a new short&#45;throw shifter in 2010 for enhanced driver experience and better performance. The rear wing profile and end plates are redesigned to further optimize the vehicle aerodynamics and improve rear yaw downforce. These changes&#44; combined with the new fifth&#45;gear ratio&#44; result in an increased top speed of 4 mph &#40;to 184 mph for the ACR model&#41;.</p>
<p>The enhanced four&#45;wheel independent suspension features high&#45;performance aluminum control arms and knuckles&#44; and KW suspension with two&#45;way adjustable competition coil&#45;over shock absorbers with remote reservoirs.</p>
<p>The aerodynamic package features a carbon fiber &#34;fanged&#34; splitter in front and adjustable carbon&#45;fiber wing with seven&#45;position stanchions that allow as much as 1&#44;000 lbs. of downforce at 150 mph. Lightweight wheels&#44; two&#45;piece slotted StopTech brake rotors and Michelin PS Cup tires round out the Dodge Viper ACR package.</p>
<p>
<strong>New Special&#44; Limited&#45;edition Dodge Viper Models</strong>
<br/>Numerous special&#44; limited&#45;edition models are planned for the 2010 model year&#44; including the Dodge Viper ACR 1&#58;33 Edition&#44; which will pay tribute to the new production car lap record set on Nov. 24&#44; 2009 at Laguna Seca raceway. The unique two&#45;tone Black Clear Coat&#47;Red Clear Coat exterior color scheme on this model is the opposite form of the original Viper ACR. Interior features include piano black console bezels with red gauge highlights complemented with red accent stitching in the seats. Only 33 cars will be produced as 1&#58;33 Edition Viper ACR models.</p>
<p>Additional special edition models will be announced closer to their individual introductions.</p>
<p>
<strong>About Dodge Brand</strong>
<br/>Dodge is a full line of cars&#44; SUVs and MPVs that are agile&#44; daring&#44; sensible and inventive. The product line includes the Dodge Caliber&#44; Dodge Avenger&#44; Dodge Challenger&#44; Dodge Charger&#44; Dodge Grand Caravan&#44; Dodge Journey&#44; Dodge Nitro and Dodge Viper SRT10.</p>
<p>Dodge introduced two new vehicles for the 2009 model year&#58; the all&#45;new 2009 Dodge Journey&#44; the brand&#39;s first crossover vehicle and the 2009 Dodge Challenger&#44; a modern&#45;day American muscle car. Dodge also celebrated the 25th anniversary of the minivan during the 2009 model year. With more than 65 minivan&#45;firsts introduced since 1983 and more than 12 million Dodge and Chrysler minivans sold&#44; Chrysler Group LLC has solidified its leadership in the segment. J.D. Power and Associates further acknowledged this leadership by naming the Dodge Grand Caravan the Most Dependable Van for 2009. The 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan continues to set the mark in the minivan segment with unsurpassed fuel economy of 17 city &#47; 25 highway mpg and minivan&#45;first innovations including the segment&#39;s only Stow &#8216;n Go&#174; and Swivel &#8216;n Go&#174; seating and storage systems. The 2010 Dodge Journey and 2010 Dodge Avenger &#40;with ESC&#41; also earned the 2009 Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS.</p>]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">2010_2_10_Dodge_brand_style_capability_value</guid><pubDate>February 10, 2010</pubDate><category>dodge_news dodge internal 2010 viper avenger caliber nitro charger challenger journey grand_caravan</category><source url="http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news">Chrysler Media Services LLC</source><dc:subject name="Dodge News" category="System Tag">dodge_news</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Dodge" category="System Tag">dodge</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Recent News From" category="System Tag">internal</dc:subject><dc:subject name="2010" category="System Tag">2010</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Viper" category="Dodge Vehicles">viper</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Avenger" category="Dodge Vehicles">avenger</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Caliber" category="Dodge Vehicles">caliber</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Nitro" category="Dodge Vehicles">nitro</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Charger" category="Dodge Vehicles">charger</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Challenger" category="Dodge Vehicles">challenger</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Journey" category="Dodge Vehicles">journey</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Grand Caravan" category="Dodge Vehicles">grand_caravan</dc:subject></item>
<item><title>Ram Truck Brand Renews Monster Truck Racing Partnership With Hall Brothers Racing</title><link>http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news/articles/?guid=2010_2_08_Dodge_ram_truck_monster_truck_partnership</link><description><![CDATA[
<ul>
<li>Raminator returns&#44; based on recently introduced Ram Heavy Duty</li>
<li>Award&#45;winning team and award&#45;winning truck team up to compete for more trophies</li>
<li>Year&#45;long racing schedule includes more than 100 dealer appearances</li>
</ul>
<p>Auburn Hills&#44; Mich.&#44; Feb 8&#44; 2010  &#45;</p>
<p>The Ram Truck Brand today announced that it would renew its monster truck racing partnership with Hall Brothers Racing. Today&#39;s news brings back a partnership that began in 2002 with the debut of the Ram&#45;based &#34;Raminator&#34; monster truck.</p>
<p>&#34;More than a million people attend monster truck events each year&#44; and audience demographics match the consumers who buy pickup trucks&#44;&#34; said Fred Diaz&#44; President and Chief Executive Officer&#44; Ram Truck Brand. &#34;We&#39;re launching a brand new Ram Heavy Duty truck and having a monster truck modeled after the 2011 Ram Heavy Duty gets our dealers and customers very excited.&#34;</p>
<p>Raminator is owned by Champaign&#44; Illinois&#45;based Hall Brothers Racing&#44; who have been competing in monster truck racing since 1987.</p>
<p>&#34;We are proud to renew our association with the Ram Truck brand&#44;&#34; said Hall Brothers Racing President and Crew Chief Tim Hall. &#34;The new Ram trucks are simply amazing! The team is excited about getting them on the race track.&#34;</p>
<p>&#34;We intend to give the Ram 1500&#44; which is already the most award&#45;winning new Ram ever&#44; and the new Ram H.D.&#44; the Motor Trend Truck of the Year&#44; some more awards . . . some monster truck championships&#44;&#34; added driver Mark Hall.</p>
<p>Hall Brothers Racing has won 14 monster truck championships. Tim Hall is a three&#45;time Monster Truck Racing Association &#40;MTRA&#41; Mechanic of the Year&#44; while brother Mark Hall has earned MTRA Driver of the Year six times in Raminator.  Tim Hall also builds the engines and electrical systems for the truck&#44; while Mark Hall serves as the shop foreman&#44; fabricator and welder in addition to his driving duties.</p>
<p>Raminator made its competitive debut Jan. 19&#44; 2002 at the U.S. Hot Rod Association&#39;s Monster Jam at the Pontiac &#40;Mich.&#41; Silverdome and went on to win Truck of the Year six times.</p>
<p>The truck&#39;s &#34;Raminator&#34; name was selected in 2001 from more than 1&#44;500 Chrysler Group employee entries. The contest to name the monster truck drew submissions from all over the world&#44; some including drawings or photographs.</p>
<p>Raminator is powered by a 565 cubic&#45;inch supercharged HEMI&#174; engine that runs on methanol alcohol and produces more than 2&#44;000 horsepower. The 10&#45;foot tall Raminator weighs in at a car&#45;crushing 10&#44;300 lbs.&#44; and features crowd&#45;pleasing special effects like smoke&#45;snorting nostrils and strobing red eyes.</p>
<p>The 2011 Dodge Ram 2500 Heavy Duty&#44; by comparison comes standard with a 383 horsepower&#44; 343 cubic&#45;inch fuel&#45;injected HEMI stands 6 feet&#44; one inch tall and weighs 5&#44;769 lbs. The new Ram Heavy Duty comes with owner&#45;pleasing special effects such as premium interior with numerous storage options&#44; integrated trailer brake controller and fluid&#45;filled hydromounts for improved ride.</p>
<p>Raminator competes primarily in MTRA and U.S. Hot Rod Association Monster Jam events. The vehicles typically race over a 350&#45;foot dirt track that includes climbing over piles of junked cars.</p>
<p>When not racing&#44; Raminator appears at trade shows&#44; farm shows and other events. Dealers also use Raminator at their dealerships for sales and other promotions. Raminator makes more than 100 dealer appearances every year.</p>]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">2010_2_08_Dodge_ram_truck_monster_truck_partnership</guid><pubDate>February 8, 2010</pubDate><category>dodge_news dodge internal 2010 trucks ram</category><source url="http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news">Chrysler Media Services LLC</source><dc:subject name="Dodge News" category="System Tag">dodge_news</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Dodge" category="System Tag">dodge</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Recent News From" category="System Tag">internal</dc:subject><dc:subject name="2010" category="System Tag">2010</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Trucks" category="Automotive">trucks</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Ram" category="Dodge Vehicles">ram</dc:subject></item>
<item><title>The Dodge Car Brand Dares Consumers to be the Master of their own Face</title><link>http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news/articles/?guid=2010_2_08_Dodge_car_brand_dares_consumer</link><description><![CDATA[
<ul>
<li>&#8216;Super Beard&#39; contest kicks off in tribute to &#8216;Man&#39;s Last Stand&#39; Super Bowl advertising spot </li>
<li>Contestants are challenged to grow a &#8216;super beard&#39; during six&#45;week contest; photos posted and judged via the Dodge Car Brand Facebook page </li>
<li>Grand prize weekend for two to a 2010 Dodge Motorsports race of choice</li>
</ul>
<p>Auburn Hills&#44; Mich.&#44; Feb 8&#44; 2010  &#45;</p>
<p>Who says you shouldn&#39;t grow a beard&#63; Grow one because you want to&#44; grow one because you can! Be the master of your own face &#8212; the Dodge Car Brand dares you to take a stand. The &#34;Super Beard&#34; contest started on Sunday&#44; Feb. 7&#44; on the Dodge Car Brand Facebook page. The contest runs Feb. 7 &#8212; March 21.</p>
<p>&#34;Super Beard is a unique and fun way to connect with potential and existing Dodge Car Brand customers through social media outlets like Facebook&#44;&#34; said Ralph Gilles&#44; President and Chief Executive Officer &#8212; Dodge Car Brand&#44; Chrysler Group LLC. &#34;The contest aligns perfectly with the fun loving attitude and spirit of the Dodge consumer&#44; and gives us an excellent opportunity to showcase the brand&#39;s new perspective and desire to have a more direct conversation with its most passionate customers.&#34;</p>
<p>Participants in the Super Beard contest are encouraged to grow the biggest super beard they can within a six&#45;week time period. Contestants may join the contest at any time by uploading a &#34;clean shaven&#34; photo. Each contestant is required to upload a minimum of two photos in order to be eligible to win. Contestants are able to upload up to six photos to share with their friends to encourage voting.</p>
<p>
<strong>Prizes include&#58;</strong>
</p>
<ol>
<li>
<strong>Voters&#39; Choice Round</strong> &#8212; Grand Prize &#40;1&#41;&#44; public voting determines the Grand Prize winner whose photographs received the most votes. <ul>
<li>
<strong>Prize&#58; Weekend for two to a 2010 Dodge Motorsports race of choice</strong>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>
<strong>Judges&#39; Choice Round</strong> &#8212; Honorable Mention Prizes &#40;2&#41;&#44; a panel of judges consisting of Dodge Car Brand employees will review and select two honorable mention prize winners whose photographs best portray the contestant&#39;s growth of a beard. Judging is based on overall quality&#44; appearance&#44; creativity&#44; quality of facial hair&#44; originality&#44; skill and content. <ul>
<li>
<strong>Prize&#58; SRT Track Experience Gift Certificates</strong>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>
<strong>Weekly Sweepstakes Prizes</strong> &#8212; Voters are automatically eligible to win a weekly prize &#40;6&#41; simply by casting their vote. Voters may receive a maximum of one weekly sweepstakes entry each calendar day by voting on three individual photographs. <ul>
<li>
<strong>Prize&#58; Dodge Prize Pack</strong>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ol>
<p>The Super Beard contest pays tribute to the all&#45;new Dodge Charger R&#47;T commercial &#34;Man&#39;s Last Stand.&#34; Whether he&#39;s walking the dog at 6&#58;30 a.m.&#44; eating more fruit&#44; putting the toilet seat down or watching vampire TV shows with his significant other&#44; &#34;Man&#39;s Last Stand&#34; offers an inside look at the lengths men will go to in order to drive the car they want. The all&#45;new 60&#45;second spot&#44; featuring the 2010 Dodge Charger R&#47;T&#44; aired during the second quarter of the Super Bowl on Sunday&#44; Feb. 7.</p>
<p>Through the new commercial&#44; the Dodge Car Brand begins to re&#45;establish its commitment to consumers who love driving expressively designed vehicles that serve as a form of self expression and are exhilarating to drive&#44; while informing all viewers that the Dodge brand has a renewed energy and focus.</p>
<p>The Super Bowl ad can be seen at www.Dodge.com. It was produced and created by the Dodge Car Brand&#39;s agency of record&#44; Wieden&#43;Kennedy from Portland&#44; Ore.</p>
<p>Voters and contestants can follow the Super Beard contest at&#58;<br/>
<a href="javascript:flexWin('http://www.facebook.com/dodge','yes','1024','768','facebook','all');" name="&lpos=content">www.Facebook.com/Dodge</a>
<br/>
<a href="en/" name="&lpos=content">www.Dodge.com</a>
</p>
<p>
<strong>About the Dodge Car Brand</strong>Dodge is a full line of cars&#44; SUVs and MPVs that are agile&#44; daring&#44; sensible and inventive. The product line includes the Dodge Caliber&#44; Dodge Avenger&#44; Dodge Challenger&#44; Dodge Charger&#44; Dodge Grand Caravan&#44; Dodge Journey&#44; Dodge Nitro and Dodge Viper SRT10&#174;.</p>
<p>Dodge introduced two new vehicles for the 2009 model year&#58; the all&#45;new 2009 Dodge Journey&#44; the brand&#39;s first crossover vehicle; and the 2009 Dodge Challenger&#44; a modern&#45;day American muscle car. Dodge also celebrated the 25th anniversary of the minivan during the 2009 model year. With more than 65 minivan firsts introduced since 1983 and more than 12 million Dodge and Chrysler minivans sold&#44; Chrysler Group LLC has solidified its leadership in the segment. J.D. Power and Associates has acknowledged this leadership by naming the Dodge Grand Caravan the Most Dependable Van for 2009. The 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan continues to set the mark in the minivan segment with unsurpassed fuel economy of 17 city&#47;25 highway mpg and minivan&#45;first innovations&#44; including the segment&#39;s only Stow &#39;n Go&#174; and Swivel &#39;n Go&#8482; seating and storage systems. The 2010 Dodge Avenger&#44; with Electronic Stability Control&#44; also earned the 2009 Top Safety Pick rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.</p>]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">2010_2_08_Dodge_car_brand_dares_consumer</guid><pubDate>February 8, 2010</pubDate><category>dodge_news dodge internal 2010 cars</category><source url="http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news">Chrysler Media Services LLC</source><dc:subject name="Dodge News" category="System Tag">dodge_news</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Dodge" category="System Tag">dodge</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Recent News From" category="System Tag">internal</dc:subject><dc:subject name="2010" category="System Tag">2010</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Cars" category="Automotive">cars</dc:subject></item>
<item><title>Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep&#174; and Ram Truck Brands Offer New Merchandise Online</title><link>http://www.jeep.com/en/experience/news/articles/?guid=2010_02_01_chrysler_dodge_jeep_new_merchandise_online</link><description><![CDATA[
<ul>
<li>All&#45;new clothing and accessories tailored to the lifestyle of each brand</li>
</ul>
<p>Auburn Hills&#44; Mich.&#44; Feb 1&#44; 2010  &#45;  Perhaps you are a hardcore fan of the Dodge Challenger&#44; in love with your Jeep&#174; Liberty&#44; think your Chrysler 300C is red&#45;carpet worthy or one of those people who would not be caught driving anything other than your award&#45;winning Ram truck. If this sounds like you&#44; and you have the desire to express yourself&#44; the Chrysler&#44; Dodge&#44; Jeep and Ram Truck brands have a new shopping experience tailored to your needs.</p>
<p>Starting today&#44; fans&#44; enthusiasts and consumers can log on to the Chrysler&#44; Dodge&#44; Jeep or Ram Truck brand web sites to view the new clothing and accessories that are available for purchase.</p>
<p>&#34;Chrysler&#44; Dodge&#44; Jeep and Ram Truck Brand vehicles each attract a different customer&#44; and the clothing and accessories offered on the brand sites represent the lifestyle and attitude of that customer&#44;&#34; said Olivier Francois&#44; President and CEO &#45; Chrysler Brand and Head of Marketing&#44; Chrysler Group LLC. &#34;Each brand offers merchandise that is high quality and made of substantial materials. We also offer products from companies that share our passion for substance and style.&#34;</p>
<p>
<strong>The Chrysler Collection &#40;<a href="javascript:flexWin('http://www.chrysler.com/collection','yes','1024','768','collection','all');" name="&lpos=content">www.Chrysler.com&#47;Collection</a>&#41;</strong>
<br/>Refined and stately&#44; the &#34;Chrysler Collection&#34; features luxury gifts&#44; accessories for travel and home&#44; and fine clothing. Offering items that would fit perfectly in a home or office&#44; the luxury gifts collection features items such as a solid mahogany humidor&#44; a black leather portfolio and an elegant assortment of writing instruments. The travel and home collection offers distinct items tailored to the Chrysler brand customer such as a leather wine bottle carrier&#44; a three&#45;finger cigar case and a Blue and Caf&#233; Brown leather tote from Clava&#174;. Men&#39;s and women&#39;s cashmere sweaters are offered in the clothing boutique&#44; which also includes oxford shirts for men and cozy jackets for women.</p>
<p>
<strong>Dodge Life &#40;<a href="javascript:flexWin('http://www.dodge.com/life','yes','1024','768','life','all');" name="&lpos=content">www.Dodge.com&#47;Life</a>&#41;</strong>
<br/>Clothing and accessories that are style driven&#44; vehicle influenced and include a taste of the iconic Dodge vehicles for which the brand is known is what the Dodge consumer will find on the &#34;Dodge Life&#34; website. The new Dodge look was created by the designers who live&#44; breathe and create the Dodge cars seen on the road today&#58; Winnie Cheung&#44; Vince Galante and Tome Jovanoski. The design team has given a new look and feel to the Dodge brand clothing which now evokes an edgier&#44; urban style that is comfortable for wearing on a road trip or at the race track. Dodge Life features hoodies and tees with the new Dodge brand &#34;D&#34; apparel logo&#44; as well as iconic Super Bee&#44; Challenger and Charger logos. The clothing collection features apparel for men&#44; women and kids. And&#44; collectors will be pleased to find numerous die&#45;cast models from yesterday and today.</p>
<p>
<strong>Jeep Gear &#40;<a href="javascript:flexWin('http://www.jeep.com/gear','yes','1024','768','gear','all');" name="&lpos=content">www.Jeep.com&#47;Gear</a>&#41;</strong>
<br/>&#34;I Live. I Ride. I Am. Jeep&#34; is not just a tagline; it&#39;s a way of life for Jeep devotees. Whether it&#39;s on the slopes or on the trail&#44; the Jeep Gear site offers items for men&#44; women&#44; kids and man&#39;s best friend. Trail headlamps&#44; UV&#45;filtering sunglasses and a Swiss Army rescue tool are must&#45;have items for off&#45;roaders. Performance fleece and water&#45;resistant jackets and vests are perfect for those who crave outdoor adventure. And&#44; for pet lovers&#44; the site features items&#44; such as a collapsible bowl&#44; matching leash and collar and other accessories. Completing the site are a collection of military&#45;inspired t&#45;shirts&#44; as well as a collection of go&#45;anywhere t&#45;shirts from American Apparel.</p>
<p>
<strong>Ram Trucks Outfitter &#40;<a href="javascript:flexWin('http://www.ramtrucks.com/outfitter','yes','1024','768','outfitter','all');" name="&lpos=content">www.Ramtrucks.com&#47;Outfitter</a>&#41;</strong>
<br/>Whether it&#39;s on the work site or in a hunting blind&#44; Ram Truck customers work and play hard&#44; and they want equipment that&#39;s durable and dependable&#44; just like the truck they drive. Cow&#45;hide work gloves that give an extra handle on any job&#44; a heavy&#45;duty G&#45;Shock watch with atomic timing suitable for any construction site or an 18&#45;can cooler in high&#45;definition in all&#45;purpose camouflage are just a snapshot of the items featured in the Ram Truck Outfitter site. Men&#39;s clothing includes a long&#45;sleeve Henley shirt thick enough to provide breathable base layer of warmth and a shadow&#45;plaid flannel&#45;lined fleece shirt. A variety of short and long&#45;sleeve American Apparel t&#45;shirts are available for women as well as polo shirts with moisture wicking to help keep cool in warm weather.</p>
<p>
<strong>About Chrysler Group LLC</strong>
<br/>Chrysler Group LLC&#44; formed in 2009 from a global strategic alliance with Fiat Group&#44; produces Chrysler&#44; Jeep&#44; Dodge&#44; Ram Truck&#44; Mopar&#174; and Global Electric Motorcars &#40;GEM&#41; brand vehicles and products. With the resources&#44; technology and worldwide distribution network required to compete on a global scale&#44; the alliance builds on Chrysler&#39;s culture of innovation &#8212; first established by Walter P. Chrysler in 1925 &#8212; and Fiat&#39;s complementary technology &#8212; from a company whose heritage dates back to 1899.</p>
<p>Headquartered in Auburn Hills&#44; Mich.&#44; Chrysler Group LLC&#39;s product lineup features some of the world&#39;s most recognizable vehicles&#44; including the Chrysler 300&#44; Jeep Wrangler and Ram Truck. Fiat will contribute world&#45;class technology&#44; platforms and powertrains for small&#45; and medium&#45;sized cars&#44; allowing Chrysler Group to offer an expanded product line including environmentally friendly vehicles.</p>]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">2010_02_01_chrysler_dodge_jeep_new_merchandise_online</guid><pubDate>February 1, 2010</pubDate><category>jeep_news jeep internal 2010 dodge dodge_news chrysler_news chrysler_llc chrysler ram featured</category><source url="http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news">Chrysler Media Services LLC</source><dc:subject name="Jeep News" category="System Tag">jeep_news</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Jeep" category="System Tag">jeep</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Recent News From" category="System Tag">internal</dc:subject><dc:subject name="2010" category="System Tag">2010</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Dodge" category="System Tag">dodge</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Dodge News" category="System Tag">dodge_news</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Chrysler News" category="System Tag">chrysler_news</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Chrysler LLC" category="Automotive">chrysler_llc</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Chrysler" category="System Tag">chrysler</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Ram" category="Dodge Vehicles">ram</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Featured" category="System Tag">featured</dc:subject></item>
<item><title>The Chrysler Brand Joins Forces with "The 67th Annual Golden Globe Awards" to Contribute Relief Efforts to Haiti</title><link>http://www.chrysler.com/en/experience/news/articles/?guid=2010_01_17_golden_globe_relief_effort_for_haiti</link><description><![CDATA[
<ul>
<li>Chrysler brand President and CEO donates personal Chrysler 300C to raise money for Haiti </li>
<li>CEO&#39;s Chrysler 300C to be signed by Golden Globe attendees and auctioned for relief efforts for Haiti&#44; expected to raise approximately 1 million dollars</li>
<li>Chrysler and Stars for a Cause partner to donate six eco&#45;friendly accessorized vehicles to celebrity charities for auction  </li>
<li>Nominee&#44; Meryl Streep&#44; presenters&#44; Christina Aguilera&#44; Leonardo DiCaprio&#44; Tom Hanks&#44; Felicity Huffman and actor Colin Firth to arrive in their select Chrysler 300 eco style limited edition vehicle&#44; which will be donated and auctioned to charity of their choice</li>
<li>Chrysler is the exclusive automotive sponsor for the second&#45;half of &#34;The 67th Annual Golden Globe Awards&#34;</li>
</ul>
<p>Beverly Hills&#44; Calif.&#44; Jan 17&#44; 2010  &#45;  Nominees&#44; presenters and performers arriving to&#34;The 67th Annual Golden Globe Awards&#34; will have an opportunity to help raise money for Haitian relief efforts with a simple signature. Positioned at the entrance of the Beverly Hilton Hotel is President and Chief Executive Officer for the Chrysler Brand&#44; Chrysler Group LLC&#44; Olivier Francois&#39; personal car&#44; a Chrysler 300C. Francois donated his vehicle so that attendees to the ceremony could place their signature upon the sedan which could then be donated for auction to specifically raise money for Haiti relief efforts.</p>
<p>&#34;Looking at the devastation this catastrophe has caused to an already impoverished country&#44;there is no doubt that we have a social responsibility to assist in any way that we can. This will not be the only funding we will provide to this country on behalf of the Chrysler Brand and Chrysler Group LLC&#44; there is more to come.&#34;said Olivier Francois&#44; President and Chief Executive Office &#8212; Chrysler Brand&#44; Chrysler Group LLC. &#34;We are pleased to join hands with Hollywood to offer this gesture as part of the relief efforts toward Haiti. And&#44; to my colleague&#44; Dodge Brand President and Chief Executive Officer&#44; who is of Haitian&#45;descent&#44; and to all Haitian&#45;Americans with family in Haiti&#44; our thoughts are with you.&#34;</p>
<p>The Chrysler 300C that will be donated for auction is expected to raise approximately 1 million dollars.</p>
<p>
<strong>Chrysler Joins Stars for a Cause to Auction Chrysler 300 &#34;eco style&#34; Edition Vehicles</strong>
<br/>The Chrysler brand&#44; together with Dick Clark Productions&#44; has also partnered with Stars for a Cause to donate six eco&#45;friendly accessorized vehicles that will be auctioned off to select celebrity charities.</p>
<p>Nominee Meryl Streep&#44; presenters Christina Aguilera&#44; Leonardo DiCaprio&#44; Tom Hanks and Felicity Huffman and actor Colin Firth will arrive to the Golden Globes in their select Chrysler 300 eco style limited edition vehicle&#44; which will be donated and auctioned to the charity of their choice.</p>
<p>Based off of the Chrysler 300C&#44; the most&#45;awarded vehicle in the industry&#44; the eco style edition vehicles are accessorized with eco&#45;friendly materials such as cork&#44; bamboo&#44; recycled jute carpeting and suede seat inserts and feature refurbished wheels while providing high&#45;end luxury and elegant design. The vehicles feature a refined interior&#44; premium technology and offer fuel&#45;efficient performance and excitement.</p>
<p>Each of the celebrities will arrive to the awards in their select vehicles&#58;</p>
<ul>
<li>Presenter Christina Aguilera&#39;s Chrysler 300 eco style vehicle features a water&#45;based Vanilla exterior color. On the inside are cactus&#45;colored seat&#45;inserts with bamboo applique placed on the door trim and center console</li>
<li>Presenter Leonardo DiCaprio&#39;s vehicle has Cream exterior and Aqua&#45;blue seat inserts&#44; a hydrographic water&#45;themed applique is subtly placed throughout the interior</li>
<li>Actor Colin Firth&#39;s vehicle features a stately and sleek Black exterior color with Black Bamboo interior accents</li>
<li>Presenter Tom Hanks will arrive to the awards in an elegant Black Chrysler 300 eco style edition vehicle with Curry seat&#45;inserts and organic appliques</li>
<li>Presenter Felicity Huffman will arrive in a Dark Cordovan vehicle with a stained Cordovan cork interior color</li>
<li>Nominee Meryl Streep&#39;s vehicle features a Platinum exterior and on the interior are Cumin&#45;colored seat&#45;inserts along with natural mat and cork materials</li>
</ul>
<p>Recycled materials are used within the interior of the vehicle. Recycled ultra&#45;suede seat inserts are used for the front and rear&#45;passenger seats and are soft to the touch and durable. Hydrographics patterns are used to place organic themes on the center console and door trim of the interior compartment. Water&#45;based paints are used on the exterior of the vehicle.</p>
<p>Under the hood is the 5.7&#45;liter HEMI&#174; engine with Muliti&#45;displacement System &#40;MDS&#41;. MDS seamlessly alternates between smooth high&#45;fuel&#45;economy four&#45;cylinder mode when less power is needed and V&#45;8 mode when more power is needed. MDS optimizes fuel economy without sacrificing vehicle performance.</p>
<p>
<strong>The 67th Annual Golden Globe Awards</strong>
<br/>The Chrysler brand&#44; in partnership with NBC&#44; Dick Clark Productions and the Hollywood Foreign Press and as the exclusive automotive sponsor for the second&#45;half of the televised broadcast&#44; will dedicate six commercial spots celebrating the craftsmanship&#44; artistry and vision of the nominees for &#34;The 67th Annual Golden Globe Awards&#34; in six different film categories.</p>
<p>The six spots&#44; produced in conjunction with NBC&#44; will be vignettes that take the audience behind the creative process and offer congratulations to the nominees in each of these categories&#58;</p>
<ul>
<li>Best Director&#47;Motion Picture</li>
<li>Best Actor&#47;Motion Picture Musical or Comedy</li>
<li>Best Motion Picture&#47;Musical or Comedy</li>
<li>Best Actress&#47;Motion Picture Drama</li>
<li>Best Actor&#47;Motion Picture Drama</li>
<li>Best Motion Picture Drama</li>
</ul>
<p>The vignettes for each category will air during a commercial break prior to the announcement of that category&#39;s winner.</p>
<p>&#34;The Golden Globe Awards honor the vision and style of the year&#39;s best in entertainment&#44; and the Chrysler brand embodies vision and style in the automotive industry&#44;&#34; said Francois.&#34;The Chrysler brand is a perfect fit to pay tribute and demonstrate a shared set of values.&#34;</p>
<p>
<strong>About the Chrysler Brand</strong>
<br/>The Chrysler brand has delighted customers with distinctive designs&#44; craftsmanship&#44; intuitive innovation and technology &#8212; all at an extraordinary value &#8212; since the company was founded in 1926.</p>
<p>Whether it is the groundbreaking&#44; bold design of the Chrysler 300&#44; the sleek elegant styling of a Sebring Convertible&#44; or the &#34;family room on wheels&#34; functionality of the Chrysler Town Country&#44; Chrysler brand vehicles reward the passion&#44; creativity and sense of accomplishment of its owners. Beyond just exceptionally designed vehicles&#44; the Chrysler brand has incorporated thoughtful features into all of its products&#44; such as the Stow &#39;n Go&#174; seating and storage system on the Chrysler Town Country&#44; the fuel&#45;saving Multi&#45;displacement System &#40;MDS&#41; in the Chrysler 300 and Uconnect Phone utilizing Bluetooth technology on the Chrysler Sebring and Chrysler Sebring Convertible.</p>
<p>Chrysler celebrated the 25th anniversary of the minivan during the 2009 model year. With more than 65 segment&#45;firsts introduced since 1983 and more than 12 million Dodge and Chrysler minivans sold&#44; Chrysler Group LLC has solidified its leadership in the segment. The 2010 Chrysler Town Country continues to set the mark in minivan value with more than 40 new or improved features from the previous generation&#44; including unsurpassed 17 city &#47; 25 highway mpg fuel economy. The 2010 Chrysler Town Country is also the first minivan in the segment to feature Blind&#45;spot Monitoring &#40;BSM&#41; and Rear Cross Path &#40;RCP&#41; accident avoidance safety systems.</p>
<p>The Chrysler brand&#39;s succession of innovative product introductions continues to solidify the brand&#39;s standing as the leader in design&#44; engineering and value. The premium for the Chrysler brand is in the product&#44; not the price.</p>]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">2010_01_17_golden_globe_relief_effort_for_haiti</guid><pubDate>January 17, 2010</pubDate><category>chrysler_news chrysler internal 2010 dodge_news dodge jeep_news jeep chrysler_llc entertainment awards featured</category><source url="http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news">Chrysler Media Services LLC</source><dc:subject name="Chrysler News" category="System Tag">chrysler_news</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Chrysler" category="System Tag">chrysler</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Recent News From" category="System Tag">internal</dc:subject><dc:subject name="2010" category="System Tag">2010</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Dodge News" category="System Tag">dodge_news</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Dodge" category="System Tag">dodge</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Jeep News" category="System Tag">jeep_news</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Jeep" category="System Tag">jeep</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Chrysler LLC" category="Automotive">chrysler_llc</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Entertainment" category="Culture &#38; Events">entertainment</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Awards" category="Automotive">awards</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Featured" category="System Tag">featured</dc:subject></item>
<item><title>2010 Dodge Viper SRT10 Awarded Detroit News Readers' Choice "Best Curves"</title><link>http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news/articles/?guid=2010_1_15_Dodge_viper_award_best_curves</link><description><![CDATA[
<ul>
<li>Detroit News reader&#45;judges award reflects consumer sentiment at the 2010 North American International Auto Show</li>
<li>Readers&#39; Choice awards reinforce Dodge brand&#39;s leadership in expressive design and driving excitement</li>
<li>Dodge Viper SRT10 stands out with its signature crosshair grille&#44; deep&#45;cut side scallops&#44; swept&#45;back fenders and lowered hood lines</li>
<li>More than 7&#44;600 custom interior and exterior configurations are now available&#44; including 12 different colors&#44; six stripe options&#44; five different interior color combinations&#44; four different wheel choices and three available interior bezels</li>
</ul>
<p>Auburn Hills&#44; Mich.&#44; Jan 15&#44; 2010  &#45;  The 2010 Dodge Viper SRT10 drove away with the Detroit News Readers&#39; Choice award for &#34;Best Curves&#44;&#34; from the 2010 North American International Auto Show. The paper&#39;s panel of 100 consumer&#45;minded Detroit News reader&#45;judges &#8212; rather than industry professionals &#8212; selected the 2010 Dodge Viper SRT10 as the most expressively styled vehicle at the show.</p>
<p>&#34;The Detroit News Readers&#39; Choice award for Best Curves speaks perfectly to the sexy styling of the race&#45;proven Dodge Viper&#39;s design&#44;&#34; said Ralph Gilles&#44; President and CEO&#44; Dodge Brand. &#34;The expressive styling of the iconic Dodge Viper gets everyone&#39;s endorphins kicking and heart racing&#44; even when it&#39;s not hitting the redline at triple&#45;digit speeds. And with its unique two&#45;tone exterior color combinations and aerodynamic components&#44; the even more passionate and track&#45;ready styling of the Dodge Viper ACR looks even more unmistakable.&#34;</p>
<p>The 2010 Dodge Viper SRT10 remains available in two body styles &#45; Roadster and Coupe. Both feature a dramatic new hood with a larger&#44; more efficient hood scoop for air induction and larger&#44; functional hood louvers to facilitate a greater cooling effect for the more powerful 8.4&#45;liter&#44; 600&#45;horsepower V&#45;10 engine underneath.</p>
<p>Several exterior differences exist between the 2010 Dodge Viper SRT10 Roadster and Coupe. In fact&#44; the only body panels they share are front fascia and fenders&#44; hood and doors. However&#44; all of the iconic Dodge Viper SRT10 design cues have been maintained&#44; including the signature crosshair grille&#44; deep&#45;cut side scallops&#44; swept&#45;back fenders and lowered hood lines.</p>
<p>Unique to the 2010 Dodge Viper SRT10 Coupe is its &#34;double bubble&#34; roof styling for greater torsional stiffness than the Roadster. The 2010 Dodge Viper SRT10 Coupe also features increased downforce and greater high&#45;speed stability with its sloping roofline and deck&#45;lid spoiler.</p>
<p>Inside&#44; the Dodge Viper SRT10 Roadster and Coupe cockpit retains its characteristic red push&#45;button starter and performance&#45;oriented&#44; highly functional instrument panel with center&#45;mounted tachometer and 220&#45;mph speedometer. Five interior trim and seating colors&#44; plus a choice of bezel finishes on the center instrument panel and console adds to the increased level of Dodge Viper SRT10&#39;s detail and customization.</p>
<p>
<strong>About 2010 Dodge Viper SRT10</strong>
<br/>For the final year of production for the current&#45;generation Dodge Viper SRT10&#44; Dodge plans to deliver a vehicle lineup like no other since the introduction of the iconic American sports car in 1992.</p>
<p>The heart of the 2010 Dodge Viper SRT10 remains the venerable 8.4&#45;liter &#40;510 cu. in.&#41; V&#45;10 engine that produces 600 &#40;450 kW&#41; horsepower and 560 lb.&#45;ft. &#40;760 N&#8901;m&#41; of torque. Benchmark performance numbers&#44; including 0&#45;60 mph in less than 4 seconds&#44; quarter&#45;mile time in the mid 11&#45;second range and 0&#45;100&#45;0 mph in 11 seconds flat and a top speed of 202 mph&#44; continue to prove how the serious&#44; race&#45;inspired&#44; street&#45;legal two&#45;seater performs without apology.</p>
<p>Body style offerings remain unchanged with the availability of Roadster and Coupe models along with the ACR &#40;American Club Racer&#41; package. Approximately 500 vehicles will be built for the 2010 model year.</p>
<p>With the introduction of two new exterior colors&#44; Toxic Orange Pearl Coat and Bright Silver Metallic Clear Coat&#44; Dodge Viper SRT10 is now available in 12 different colors&#44; the most regularly available choices in one model year. And with six stripe options in the new wider configuration&#44; five different interior color combinations&#44; four different wheel choices and three available interior bezels; the 2010 Viper SRT10 will be available in more than 7&#44;600 combinations &#8212; the most for any one model year &#8212; significantly adding to the exclusivity of each car like never before.</p>
<p>Numerous special&#44; limited&#45;edition models are planned for the 2010 model year&#44; including the Dodge Viper ACR 1&#58;33 Edition&#44; which will pay tribute to the new production car lap record set on Nov. 24&#44; 2009 at Laguna Seca raceway. The unique two&#45;tone Black Clear Coat&#47;Red Clear Coat exterior color scheme on this model is the opposite form of the original Viper ACR. Interior features include piano black console bezels with red gauge highlights complemented with red accent stitching in the seats. Only 33 cars will be produced as 1&#58;33 Edition Viper ACR models.</p>
<p>Additional special edition models will be announced closer to their individual introductions.</p>
<p>
<strong>viperheadquarters.com&#58;</strong>
<br/>Dodge has created a new website designed to showcase the Dodge Viper SRT10 both on the street and on the track. Check out the new online home for all things Viper at www.viperheadquarters.com.</p>
<p>
<strong>About Dodge</strong>
<br/>Dodge is a full line of cars&#44; SUVs and MPVs that are agile&#44; daring&#44; sensible and inventive. The product line includes the Dodge Caliber&#44; Dodge Avenger&#44; Dodge Challenger&#44; Dodge Charger&#44; Dodge Grand Caravan&#44; Dodge Journey&#44; Dodge Nitro and Dodge Viper SRT10.</p>
<p>Dodge introduced two new vehicles for the 2009 model year&#58; the all&#45;new 2009 Dodge Journey&#44; the brand&#39;s first crossover vehicle and the 2009 Dodge Challenger&#44; a modern&#45;day American muscle car. Dodge also celebrated the 25th anniversary of the minivan during the 2009 model year. With more than 65 minivan&#45;firsts introduced since 1983 and more than 12 million Dodge and Chrysler minivans sold&#44; Chrysler Group LLC has solidified its leadership in the segment. J.D. Power and Associates further acknowledged this leadership by naming the Dodge Grand Caravan the Most Dependable Van for 2009. The 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan continues to set the mark in the minivan segment with unsurpassed fuel economy of 17 city &#47; 25 highway mpg and minivan&#45;first innovations including the segment&#39;s only Stow &#8216;n Go&#174; and Swivel &#8216;n Go&#8482; seating and storage systems. The 2010 Dodge Avenger&#44; with ESC&#44; also earned the 2009 Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS.</p>]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">2010_1_15_Dodge_viper_award_best_curves</guid><pubDate>January 15, 2010</pubDate><category>dodge_news dodge internal 2010 awards viper</category><source url="http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news">Chrysler Media Services LLC</source><dc:subject name="Dodge News" category="System Tag">dodge_news</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Dodge" category="System Tag">dodge</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Recent News From" category="System Tag">internal</dc:subject><dc:subject name="2010" category="System Tag">2010</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Awards" category="Automotive">awards</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Viper" category="Dodge Vehicles">viper</dc:subject></item>
<item><title>Dodge: The Full-of-Life Brand Delivers More Style, Capability and Value than Ever Before</title><link>http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news/articles/?guid=2010_1_11_Dodge_Nitro_Detonator</link><description><![CDATA[
<p>
<strong>DODGE&#58; THE FULL&#45;OF&#45;LIFE BRAND DELIVERS MORE STYLE&#44; CAPABILITY AND VALUE THAN EVER BEFORE</strong>
</p>
<p>
<strong>Auburn Hills&#44; Mich.&#44; January 11&#44; 2010</strong> &#45; The Dodge Car brand heads into the new calendar year with added driving excitement and numerous product enhancements that deliver more performance&#44; capability and style.</p>
<p>&#34;For 2010&#44; the Dodge brand&#39;s new lifestyle model lineup delivers rides with more excitement&#44; features and value than ever before&#44;&#34; said Ralph Gilles &#45; President and CEO&#44; Dodge Brand&#44; Chrysler Group LLC. &#34;From the restyled interior of the new Dodge Caliber&#44; to the 23 percent more standard horsepower in the re&#45;excited Dodge Nitro lineup&#44; to the new content&#45;loaded Dodge Journey and Dodge Avenger models&#44; we have packed in more features throughout the Dodge product lineups to empower our customers to do more&#44; have more fun and live their lives to the fullest.&#34;</p>
<p>
<strong>New 2010 Dodge Journey models&#58; more capability&#44; value and refinement</strong>
</p>
<p>Delivering more excitement&#44; functionality and value&#44; the 2010 Dodge Journey offers several all&#45;new models packed with upgraded features&#44; all&#45;wheel&#45;drive capability at a best&#45;in&#45;class price and seven&#45;passenger seating to give customers everything they need packaged at a value they can afford.</p>
<p>Dodge has taken &#34;base model&#34; out of its vocabulary. Compared with its previous lineup&#44; the new entry&#45;level Dodge Journey model gives customers a slew of standard features&#44; including 17&#45;inch aluminum wheels&#44; cruise control&#44; sunscreen glass&#44; body&#45;color mirrors&#44; floor mats and passenger grab handles. A standard fuel&#45;efficient 2.4&#45;liter World Engine powers the Dodge Journey and delivers 25 miles per gallon &#40;mpg&#41; highway fuel economy. The U.S. Manufacturer&#39;s Suggested Retail Price &#40;MSRP&#41; for the 2010 Dodge Journey is &#36;20&#44;995 &#40;including &#36;675 destination&#41;.</p>
<p>For young families who need more seating&#44; the Express package on the entry&#45;level Dodge Journey model includes 5&#43;2 Flexible Seating&#44; providing a third row that allows owners to comfortably seat seven passengers. MSRP for the Dodge Journey with the Express package is &#36;21&#44;995 &#40;including &#36;675 destination&#41;.</p>
<p>For customers who want more power&#44; the all&#45;new Hero package adds a powerful 3.5&#45;liter V&#45;6 engine that delivers 35 percent more power and 40 percent more torque. This quality&#45;proven 235 horsepower &#40;175 kW&#41; 3.5&#45;liter V&#45;6 engine with dual exhausts paired with a six&#45;speed transmission adds more capability&#44; driving performance and 24 mpg highway fuel economy to the Dodge Journey&#44; as well as seven passenger seating. MSRP for the 2010 Dodge Journey with the Hero package is &#36;22&#44;995 &#40;including &#36;675 destination&#41;.</p>
<p>With its best&#45;in&#45;class price &#45; and the ultimate value in the 2010 Dodge Journey lineup &#45; the all&#45;new Dodge Journey Hero package also features an available electronically controlled all&#45;wheel&#45;drive &#40;AWD&#41; system. The fun&#45;to&#45;drive 3.5&#45;liter V&#45;6 engine with dual exhausts and six&#45;speed Auto Stick transmission&#44; as well as 19&#45;inch aluminum wheels&#44; are standard. MSRP for the 2010 Dodge Journey with the Hero package and AWD is &#36;23&#44;995 &#40;including &#36;675 destination&#41;.</p>
<p>Attracting singles and young families looking for style&#44; performance and capability&#44; the new Dodge Journey Heat model includes Uconnect&#38;trade; Phone&#44; iPod&#174; Control&#44; SIRIUS Satellite Radio&#44; auto&#45;dimming rear&#45;view mirror&#44; remote start&#44; Electronic Vehicle Information Center &#40;EVIC&#41;&#44; HomeLink universal transceiver&#44; tonneau cover and six premium speakers with subwoofer. In addition to its 3.5&#45;liter V&#45;6 engine with six&#45;speed Auto Stick transmission&#44; Dodge Journey Heat features five&#45;passenger seating&#44; a tri&#45;folding cargo&#45;load floor with additional storage space beneath&#44; 19&#45;inch aluminum wheels and large chromed&#45;tip dual exhausts. MSRP for the 2010 Dodge Journey Heat is &#36;24&#44;995 &#40;including &#36;675 destination&#41;.</p>
<p>A true family vehicle loaded with comfort&#44; premium amenities and refinement &#45; the new 2010 Dodge Journey Crew adds even more standard features to the well&#45;equipped Dodge Journey Heat model&#44; including the 5&#43;2 Flexible Seating Group for seven&#45;passenger seating&#44; automatic climate control&#44; premium gauge cluster&#44; 9&#45;inch rear DVD entertainment system&#44; chromed interior accents&#44; chromed roof rack&#44; chromed door handles&#44; 19&#45;inch painted machined wheels and body&#45;color side sills. MSRP for the 2010 Dodge Journey Crew is &#36;25&#44;995 &#40;including &#36;675 destination&#41;.</p>
<p>For luxury&#45;minded customers who want it all&#44; the new Dodge Journey Uptown takes it up a notch with leather&#45;trimmed seven&#45;passenger seating&#44; power sun roof&#44; Media Center 730N navigation system with 30&#45;gigabyte hard drive and real&#45;time traffic monitoring&#44; Parkview&#38;trade; rear back&#45;up camera&#44; rear&#45;seat DVD entertainment system&#44; 19&#45;inch chromed wheels&#44; and chromed body&#45;side molding. MSRP for the 2010 Dodge Journey Uptown is &#36;29&#44;995 &#40;including &#36;675 destination&#41;.</p>
<p>All Dodge Journey models offer all&#45;weather AWD capability with an Electronically&#45;controlled Coupling &#40;ECC&#41; for instant torque transfer to the rear wheels when needed. The ECC delivers up to 50&#58;50 front&#47;rear torque bias for maximum all&#45;weather traction.</p>
<p>The 2010 Dodge Journey also is a 2010 Top Safety Pick according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety &#40;IIHS&#41;.</p>
<p>
<strong>2010 Dodge Caliber&#58; all&#45;new interior and new model lineup</strong>
</p>
<p>The Dodge Car brand&#39;s compact car gets an all&#45;new refined interior for 2010. Executed with premium materials and detailed craftsmanship&#44; Caliber has an all&#45;new instrument panel design that features a more integrated look and improved ergonomics.</p>
<p>New for 2010 are an additional cubby storage space&#44; center storage bin&#44; larger climate controls and seamless passenger airbag cover. Bright Satin Silver accents add contrast to Dodge Caliber&#39;s interior design&#44; while chromed accents brighten heating&#44; ventilation and air conditioning &#40;HVAC&#41; vents&#44; shift bezel&#44; door handles and cluster rings. New door&#45;trim panels and center console with armrest split&#45;lid feature padded soft&#45;touch materials for improved passenger comfort.</p>
<p>In addition&#44; the new 2010 Dodge Caliber features new lifestyle&#45;oriented models &#40;Express&#44; Mainstreet&#44; Heat&#44; Uptown and Rush&#41; bundled with more features.</p>
<p>For customers looking for efficiency and value&#44; the new 2010 Dodge Caliber Express delivers with standard Uconnect Phone&#44; iPod Control&#44; auto&#45;dimming rear&#45;view mirror&#44; SIRIUS Satellite Radio&#44; power windows&#44; mirrors and locks&#44; 115&#45;volt power outlet&#44; cruise control&#44; remote keyless entry&#44; tonneau cover&#44; air conditioning&#44; four&#45;wheel Anti&#45;lock Brake System &#40;ABS&#41; and 2.0&#45;liter 16&#45;valve World Engine with fuel&#45;efficient five&#45;speed manual transmission capable of 31 mpg on the highway. MSRP for the 2010 Dodge Caliber Express is &#36;17&#44;510 &#40;including &#36;630 destination&#41;.</p>
<p>The new Dodge Caliber Mainstreet offers the features of the Dodge Caliber Express with added capability and style featuring standard 17&#45;inch aluminum wheels&#44; chromed crosshair grille&#44; body&#45;color door handles&#44; fog lamps&#44; folding front&#45;passenger seat&#44; 60&#47;40 split&#45;folding and reclining rear seat&#44; touring suspension&#44; tachometer and 2.0&#45;liter 16&#45;valve World Engine with second&#45;generation Continuously&#45;variable Transmission &#40;CVT2&#41;. MSRP for the 2010 Dodge Caliber Mainstreet is &#36;18&#44;890 &#40;including &#36;630 destination&#41;.</p>
<p>For customers looking for capability combined with added technology and refinement&#44; the new Dodge Caliber Uptown adds automatic climate control&#44; five&#45;passenger leather seating&#44; power driver&#39;s seat and four&#45;wheel Anti&#45;lock disc Brakes &#40;ABS&#41; to the Caliber Mainstreet. The Premium Sound Group kicks&#45;up the tunes with the MusicGate Power&#38;trade; nine&#45;speaker Boston Acoustics system&#44; steering&#45;wheel mounted audio controls and two articulating liftgate speakers. MSRP for the 2010 Dodge Caliber Mainstreet is &#36;20&#44;625 &#40;including &#36;630 destination&#41;.</p>
<p>Compact car buyers looking for a sportier ride have two options from which to choose. The all&#45;new Dodge Caliber Heat model takes the Caliber Mainstreet model and adds a sport&#45;tuned suspension&#44; 18&#45;inch polished&#45;aluminum wheels&#44; four&#45;wheel Anti&#45;lock disc Brakes &#40;ABS&#41;&#44; performance steering&#44; color&#45;keyed instrument panel and seats&#44; B&#45; and C&#45;pillar blackout accents and five&#45;speed manual transmission. MSRP for the 2010 Dodge Caliber Heat is &#36;18&#44;625 &#40;including &#36;630 destination&#41;.</p>
<p>And for more power&#44; Dodge Caliber Rush includes a unique five&#45;speed manual transmission mated to a larger 2.4&#45;liter World Engine with 172 horsepower &#40;128 kW&#41; and 165 ft.&#45;lb. &#40;224 N&#149;m&#41; of torque. Equipment differences from the Caliber Heat include 18&#45;inch chrome&#45;clad wheels&#44; SRT&#45;designed spoiler&#44; automatic climate control&#44; Premium Sound Group&#44; Media Center 430 radio with touchscreen and 30&#45;gigabyte hard drive. A CVT2 with Auto Stick is optional. MSRP for the 2010 Dodge Caliber Rush is &#36;20&#44;625 &#40;including &#36;630 destination&#41;.</p>
<p>The all&#45;new Dodge Caliber lineup will arrive at Dodge dealerships nationwide in the first&#45;quarter of 2010.</p>
<p>
<strong>All&#45;new Dodge Nitro model lineup gives more bang for your buck</strong>
</p>
<p>The Dodge Nitro lineup has been revised and renamed for 2010&#44; offering new exterior and interior styling and new standard features and safety equipment for 2010. These new models &#40;Heat&#44; Detonator and Shock&#41; provide Nitro customers with more standard content&#44; including a standard 4.0&#45;liter V&#45;6 engine&#44; 20&#45;inch aluminum wheels&#44; eight premium speakers with a 368&#45;watt amplifier and 9&#45;inch subwoofer&#44; deep&#45;tinted glass&#44; Uconnect Phone&#44; iPod Control&#44; SIRIUS Satellite Radio&#44; auto&#45;dimming rear&#45;view mirror&#44; speed control and security alarm.</p>
<p>In addition to the curb appeal gained from its 20&#45;inch painted Mopar&#174; aluminum wheels and body&#45;color grille with bright billets&#44; the 2010 Dodge Nitro Heat packs a punch with 23 percent more horsepower and 12 percent more torque than the previous entry&#45;level model. With its aluminum 4.0&#45;liter overhead cam V&#45;6 engine&#44; the Nitro Heat&#44; and the entire Nitro lineup&#44; delivers 260 horsepower &#40;194 kW&#41; and 265 lb.&#45;ft. &#40;359 N&#149;m&#41; of torque with a five&#45;speed automatic transmission. MSRP for the 2010 Dodge Nitro Heat is &#36;23&#44;995 &#40;including &#36;745 destination&#41;.</p>
<p>The Dodge Nitro Detonator offers new exterior design cues&#44; as well as standard interior and safety features that were previously optional on the former SXT model. The new Dodge Detonator model features 20&#45;inch Mopar polished&#47;painted aluminum wheels&#44; hood decal&#44; eight speakers plus subwoofer&#44; remote start&#44; ParkSense&#174; rear&#45;park assist and color&#45;keyed premium cloth interior that matches the exterior paint color. MSRP for the 2010 Dodge Nitro Detonator is &#36;25&#44;995 &#40;including &#36;745 destination&#41;.</p>
<p>The Dodge Nitro Shock adds heated leather seats and a sun roof to the Nitro Detonator model. MSRP for the 2010 Dodge Nitro Shock is &#36;26&#44;995 &#40;including &#36;745 destination&#41;.</p>
<p>The new 2010 Dodge Nitro lineup is now available in nine exterior colors&#44; including Detonator Yellow Clear Coat &#40;late availability&#41;.</p>
<p>
<strong>New 2010 Dodge Avenger&#58; standard connectivity features &#61; more fun&#45;to&#45;drive</strong>
</p>
<p>Dodge Avenger combines bold&#44; aggressive Dodge styling with innovative interior features&#44; high levels of safety and reliability&#44; exhilarating performance and excellent fuel efficiency of 30 mpg on the highway. The new Dodge Avenger lineup includes two new models &#40;Express and Heat&#41; that are loaded with standard features.</p>
<p>The all&#45;new Dodge Avenger Express is priced &#36;1&#44;000 less than the previous entry&#45;level model and adds Uconnect Phone&#44; iPod Control&#44; auto&#45;dimming rear&#45;view mirror&#44; SIRIUS Satellite Radio&#44; power driver&#39;s seat&#44; heated premium cloth seats&#44; heated exterior mirrors&#44; leather&#45;wrapped steering wheel and shift knob&#44; chromed interior accents&#44; Media Center 430 radio with touchscreen and 30&#45;gigabyte hard drive&#44; steering&#45;wheel mounted audio controls&#44; 17&#45;inch aluminum wheels&#44; chromed crosshair grille and 2.4&#45;liter World Engine with automatic transmission. MSRP for the 2010 Dodge Avenger Express is &#36;19&#44;970 &#40;including &#36;740 destination&#41;.</p>
<p>In addition&#44; the new Dodge Avenger Heat adds to the Avenger Express&#39; high level of content with an MSRP &#36;1&#44;500 less than the model it replaces. The Avenger Express includes fog lamps&#44; rear spoiler&#44; 18&#45;inch aluminum wheels&#44; body&#45;color crosshair grille and six Boston Acoustics speakers. An optional Boost package adds more performance with a 235 horsepower &#40;175 kW&#41; 3.5&#45;liter V&#45;6 engine&#44; chromed dual exhausts&#44; sport&#45;tuned suspension&#44; performance steering and six&#45;speed transmission with Auto Stick. MSRP for the 2010 Dodge Avenger Heat is &#36;20&#44;970 &#40;including &#36;740 destination&#41;.</p>
<p>The 2010 Dodge Avenger&#44; with Electronic Stability Control &#40;ESC&#41;&#44; is a 2010 Top Safety Pick according to the IIHS.</p>
<p>
<strong>Dodge Challenger&#39;s Gone Plum Crazy</strong>
</p>
<p>Combining two legendary icons of Dodge pony&#45;car history &#45; HEMI V&#45;8 power and Plum Crazy Pearl Coat paint &#45; the new Plum Crazy limited&#45;edition 2010 Dodge Challenger R&#47;T Classic and SRT8 performance coupe deliver more excitement to the streets. Both Dodge Challenger models deliver the best of modern American muscle&#45;car characteristics &#45; unmistakable design&#44; world&#45;class handling&#44; powerful HEMI&#174; V&#45;8 engines and technology &#45; now with an extra dose of nostalgia.</p>
<p>For the hardcore Dodge enthusiast&#44; all&#45;new Katzkin leather seat sets are available in bright white with Plum Crazy piping to highlight these unique Dodge Challengers&#39; exterior paint and stripes. Additional Katzkin leather seat seats are available directly through Mopar&#174;.</p>
<p>Dodge Challenger R&#47;T Classic Plum Crazy models feature dual&#45;wide A&#45;line body&#45;side R&#47;T stripes in matte black or new bright white. Completing the look are &#34;Challenger&#34; fender badges in classic script&#44; large 20&#45;inch polished&#45;aluminum heritage wheels with all&#45;season performance tires&#44; classic egg&#45;crate grille with heritage &#34;R&#47;T&#34; badge&#44; body&#45;color rear spoiler&#44; functional hood scoop and bright racing style fuel&#45;filler door.</p>
<p>Delivering even more punch&#44; the 2010 Dodge Challenger SRT8 Plum Crazy edition delivers even more exclusivity with a 6.1&#45;liter HEMI V&#45;8 engine producing 425 horsepower and 420 lb.&#45;ft. of torque&#44; performance&#45;tuned ride and handling&#44; benchmark braking and race&#45;inspired interior with unique SRT&#45;designed appointments and exterior&#45;matching SRT performance seats with Plum Crazy accented stripe.</p>
<p>The MSRP for the new 2010 Dodge Challenger R&#47;T Classic in Plum Crazy Pearl Coat is &#36;35&#44;140&#44; while the high&#45;performance SRT8 model is &#36;44&#44;155 &#40;both prices include &#36;725 destination&#41;. Both Plum Crazy models are available for ordering now at Dodge dealerships nationwide.</p>
<p>
<strong>The ultimate American performance car icon&#58; Dodge Viper SRT10</strong>
</p>
<p>For the final year of production for the current generation Dodge Viper SRT10&#44; Dodge plans to deliver a vehicle lineup like no other since the introduction of the iconic American sports car in 1992.</p>
<p>The heart of the 2010 Dodge Viper SRT10 remains the venerable 8.4&#45;liter &#40;510 cu. in.&#41; V&#45;10 engine that produces 600 &#40;450 kW&#41; horsepower and 560 lb.&#45;ft. &#40;760 N&#149;m&#41; of torque. Benchmark performance numbers&#44; including 0&#45;60 mph in less than 4 seconds&#44; quarter&#45;mile time in the mid 11&#45;second range and 0&#45;100&#45;0 mph in 11 seconds flat and a top speed of 202 mph&#44; continue to prove how the serious&#44; race&#45;inspired&#44; street&#45;legal two&#45;seater performs without apology.</p>
<p>Body style offerings remain unchanged with the availability of Roadster and Coupe models along with the ACR &#40;American Club Racer&#41; package. Approximately 500 vehicles will be built for the 2010 model year.</p>
<p>With the introduction of two new exterior colors&#45;Toxic Orange Pearl Coat and Bright Silver Metallic Clear Coat&#45;Dodge Viper SRT10 is now available in 12 different colors&#44; the most regularly available choices in one model year. And with six stripe options in the new wider configuration&#44; five different interior color combinations&#44; four different wheel choices and three available interior bezels; the 2010 Viper SRT10 will be available in more than 7&#44;600 combinations &#45; the most for any one model year &#45; significantly adding to the exclusivity of each car like never before.</p>
<p>New across the Viper lineup is a shorter fifth gear ratio &#40;changing from 0.74 to 0.80&#41; for improved high&#45;speed acceleration and higher straightaway speeds. Acceleration from 0&#45;200 mph has improved by 14 seconds. This improvement is a direct result of the Chrysler Group LLC Street and Racing Technology team&#39;s experience at the 12.9&#45;mile N&#252;rburgring Nordschleife circuit in Germany&#44; where during the lap&#45;record run in 2008&#44; it was found that a revised gear ratio would have resulted in higher top gear acceleration and a quicker lap time.</p>
<p>
<strong>Viper SRT10 ACR</strong>
</p>
<p>The Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR receives a new short&#45;throw shifter in 2010 for enhanced driver experience and better performance. The rear wing profile and end plates are redesigned to further optimize the vehicle aerodynamics and improve rear yaw downforce. These changes&#44; combined with the new fifth gear ratio&#44; result in an increased top speed of 4 mph &#40;to 184 mph for the ACR model&#41;.</p>
<p>The enhanced four&#45;wheel independent suspension features high&#45;performance aluminum control arms and knuckles&#44; and KW suspension with two&#45;way adjustable competition coil&#45;over shock absorbers with remote reservoirs.</p>
<p>The aerodynamic package features a carbon fiber &#34;fanged&#34; splitter in front and adjustable carbon&#45;fiber wing with seven&#45;position stanchions that allow as much as 1&#44;000 lbs. of downforce at 150 mph. Lightweight wheels&#44; two&#45;piece slotted StopTech brake rotors and Michelin PS Cup tires round out the Dodge Viper ACR package.</p>
<p>
<strong>New Special&#44; Limited&#45;edition Dodge Viper Models</strong>
</p>
<p>Numerous special&#44; limited&#45;edition models are planned for the 2010 model year&#44; including the Dodge Viper ACR 1&#58;33 Edition&#44; which will pay tribute to the new production car lap record set on Nov. 24&#44; 2009 at Laguna Seca raceway. The unique two&#45;tone Black Clear Coat&#47;Red Clear Coat exterior color scheme on this model is the opposite form of the original Viper ACR. Interior features include piano black console bezels with red gauge highlights complemented with red accent stitching in the seats. Only 33 cars will be produced as 1&#58;33 Edition Viper ACR models.</p>
<p>Additional special edition models will be announced closer to their individual introductions.</p>
<p>
<strong>About Dodge</strong>
</p>
<p>Dodge is a full line of cars&#44; SUVs and MPVs that are agile&#44; daring&#44; sensible and inventive. The product line includes the Dodge Caliber&#44; Dodge Avenger&#44; Dodge Challenger&#44; Dodge Charger&#44; Dodge Grand Caravan&#44; Dodge Journey&#44; Dodge Nitro and Dodge Viper SRT10.</p>
<p>Dodge introduced two new vehicles for the 2009 model year&#58; the all&#45;new 2009 Dodge Journey&#44; the brand&#39;s first crossover vehicle and the 2009 Dodge Challenger&#44; a modern&#45;day American muscle car. Dodge also celebrated the 25th anniversary of the minivan during the 2009 model year. With more than 65 minivan&#45;firsts introduced since 1983 and more than 12 million Dodge and Chrysler minivans sold&#44; Chrysler Group LLC has solidified its leadership in the segment. J.D. Power and Associates further acknowledged this leadership by naming the Dodge Grand Caravan the Most Dependable Van for 2009. The 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan continues to set the mark in the minivan segment with unsurpassed fuel economy of 17 city &#47; 25 highway mpg and minivan&#45;first innovations including the segment&#39;s only Stow &#39;n Go&#174; and Swivel &#39;n Go&#38;trade; seating and storage systems. The 2010 Dodge Avenger&#44; with ESC&#44; also earned the 2009 Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS.</p>
<p>In 2008 calendar year&#44; the Dodge Journey entered key volume markets outside North America&#44; joining the Dodge Avenger&#44; Nitro and Caliber. Dodge Caliber was the highest sales volume vehicle for the company outside North America in 2008.</p>
<p>
<strong>Follow Dodge and Chrysler Group LLC news and video on&#58;</strong>
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<item><title>Ram Truck Brand Continues to Refine the Boldest, Most Powerful and Capable Lineup on the Planet</title><link>http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news/articles/?guid=2010_1_07_Dodge_ram_truck_continues_to_refine</link><description><![CDATA[
<ul>
<li>Ram 1500 pickup continues to receive accolades for game changing design&#44; improved quality&#44; segment&#45;first features&#44; increased capability and best&#45;in&#45;class  ride quality</li>
<li>All&#45;new 2010 Ram 2500 and 3500 Heavy Duty pickup begins to haul in awards</li>
<li>All&#45;new 2011 Ram 3500&#44; 4500 and 5500 Chassis Cab to complete Ram Lineup</li>
</ul>
<p>Auburn Hills&#44; Mich.&#44; Jan 7&#44; 2010  &#45;</p>
<p>With a work&#45;hard&#44; play&#45;hard attitude&#44; Ram Truck offers the boldest&#44; most powerful and capable pickup truck lineup in the business.</p>
<p>&#34;Ram Trucks continue to break the rules with big&#45;rig styling&#44; improved quality&#44; durability and capability&#44;&#34; said Fred Diaz&#44; President and Chief Executive Officer&#8212;Ram Truck Brand&#44; Chrysler Group LLC. &#34;Starting with the most award&#45;winning light&#45;duty pickup &#8212; our Ram 1500&#44; our all&#45;new ultimate towing machine and Motor Trend&#39;s Truck of the Year&#44; the 2010 Ram 2500&#47;3500 Heavy Duty&#44; our best&#45;in&#45;class towing Dakota and the all&#45;new 2011 Ram 3500&#44; 4500 and 5500 Chassis Cabs&#44; our trucks are the best on the planet.&#34;</p>
<p>Introduced in 2008&#44; the Ram 1500 is a game changer in terms of its ability to &#34;outsmart&#34; and &#34;out&#45;tough&#34; the competition with its bold exterior design&#44; crafted and refined interior&#44; engineering excellence&#44; superb innovation and best&#45;in&#45;class features&#44; amenities and ride quality.</p>
<p>The Ram 1500 also ranks at the top of Strategic Vision 2009 Total Quality Index&#8482; &#40;TQI&#41; in the full&#45;size truck segment. According to the survey&#44; the Ram 1500 leads the way with the highest Total Quality score of any truck in the 15&#45;year history of the study.</p>
<p>Customers specifically noted that the Ram 1500 has the best added storage capability along with the best truck interior ever rated by customers.</p>
<p>The Ram Truck brand adds to its award&#45;winning lineup with the recent introduction of its all&#45;new 2010 Ram 2500 and 3500 Heavy Duty trucks. The new heavy&#45;duty trucks provide customers with first&#45;time innovations and features&#44; along with new standards of strength&#44; utility and driveability&#44; building on the Ram&#39;s leadership in the heavy&#45;duty pickup segment.</p>
<p>Ram Truck will further enhance its commercial vehicle presence with the introduction of a &#34;new crew&#34; of commercial&#45;grade work trucks&#58; the all&#45;new 2011 Ram 3500&#44; 4500 and 5500 Chassis Cabs. Led by an all&#45;new crew cab&#44; the new 2011 Ram Chassis Cabs are built on a proven frame and chassis and engineered for maximum uptime&#44; optimum performance and enhanced commercial capability.</p>
<p>
<strong>Ram 1500 Pickup</strong>
<br/>In addition to winning Strategic Vision&#39;s TQI&#44; the Ram 1500 has earned 17 key awards since its introduction. Other awards include&#58;</p>
<ul>
<li>International Car of the Year &#40;ICOTY&#41; &#8212; 2009 International Truck of the Year</li>
<li>Texas Auto Writer&#39;s Association &#40;TAWA&#41; &#8212; 2009 Full&#45;Size Pickup Truck of Texas</li>
<li>MotorWeek &#8212; Best Pickup Truck</li>
<li>Maxim &#8212; Achievement in Party&#45;Enabling Technology &#40;RamBox&#41;</li>
<li>Edmunds&#39; Inside Line &#8212; A 2009 Editor&#39;s Most Wanted</li>
<li>Edmunds&#39; Inside Line &#8212; Best Full&#45;size Pickup Truck</li>
<li>Consumer Guide &#8212; Large Pickup &#8212; Best Buy for 2009</li>
<li>Cars.com &#8212; Work Truck of the Year</li>
<li>Truckin&#39; magazine &#8212; Truck of the Year</li>
<li>Autobytel.com &#8212; 2009 MyRide&#47;Autobytel Editors&#39; Choice Awards &#8212; Truck of the Year</li>
<li>Ward&#39;s AutoWorld &#8212; Interior of the Year</li>
<li>Rocky Mountain Automotive Press Association &#8212; Truck of the Year</li>
<li>New England Motor Press Association &#40;NEMPA&#41; &#8212; Best&#45;in&#45;Class Pickup Award</li>
<li>Ward&#39;s AutoWorld &#8212; Ward&#39;s 10 Best Engines of 2009 &#40;2009 Ram 5.7&#45;liter HEMI&#174; engine&#41;</li>
<li>Automobile Journalists Association of Canada &#8212; Best New Pickup</li>
<li>AutoPacific&#39;s Vehicle Satisfaction Award</li>
<li>Sobre Ruedas &#8212; Sobre Ruedas Best Pickup Truck for &#39;08</li>
</ul>
<p>For 2010&#44; Ram 1500&#39;s towing capability has increased to 10&#44;450 pounds. Combining Ram&#39;s legendary 5.7&#45;liter HEMI&#174; V&#45;8 engine and the segment&#45;exclusive multi&#45;link coil spring rear suspension&#44; Gross Combined Weight Rating &#40;GCWR&#41; has increased to 15&#44;500 pounds&#44; from 14&#44;000 pounds&#44; with the 140.5&#45;inch wheelbase&#44; 5.7&#45;liter engine and 3.92 rear axle. This increased GCWR equates to an increase in tow rating. This improved rating&#44; along with Ram&#39;s industry&#45;first features and impressive ride and handling capabilities&#44; make Ram the most capable light&#45;duty pickup on the market.</p>
<p>The 2010 Ram incorporates a first&#45;in&#45;segment&#44; multi&#45;link coil spring rear suspension that improves ride and handling without sacrificing payload &#40;as much as 1&#44;900 pounds&#41; and towing capability &#40;as much as an estimated 10&#44;450 pounds&#41;.</p>
<p>New interior features include fuel&#45;saver indicator on 3.7&#45;liter models&#44; a new premium Tire&#45;pressure Monitoring &#40;TPM&#41; system and Park&#45;Assist indicator in the Electronic Vehicle Information Center EVIC display.</p>
<p>Other new features include an iPod&#174; Control that connects most iPod&#45;compatible devices using an iPod Control cable. The cable enables iPod devices to be controlled through Ram&#39;s media center radio or steering&#45;wheel radio controls.</p>
<p>New exterior features include available folding trailer&#45;tow mirrors&#44; integrated trailer&#45;brake controller&#44; power trailer&#45;tow mirrors&#44; electro&#45;chromic mirrors and new 22&#45;inch tires and wheels included in R&#47;T package.</p>
<p>Fuel economy enhancements for 2010 include interactive Decel Fuel Shut Off &#40;iDFSO&#41; on all engines. iDFSO turns off the flow of fuel during vehicle deceleration for improved real&#45;world fuel economy without any noticeable changes in engine performance.</p>
<p>The 2010 Ram Crew Cab 1500 features an available first&#45;in&#45;segment RamBox cargo management system that provides weatherproof&#44; lockable&#44; illuminated and drainable storage compartments integrated into both cargo&#45;box sides for effortless access and convenience. The RamBox system includes a bed divider&#47;2&#45;foot bed extender for oversize loads and a rail system with sliding&#44; adjustable cleats for infinitely adjustable tie&#45;down capability.</p>
<p>Ram 1500 is available in a regular cab&#44; Quad Cab and crew&#45;cab configuration and offers three box lengths&#58; 8&#45;foot &#40;regular cab&#41;&#44; 6&#45;foot 4&#45;inches &#40;regular cab and Quad Cab&#41;&#44; and 5&#45;foot 7&#45;inches &#40;Crew Cab&#41;. For 2010&#44; Ram 1500 is available in five distinct trim levels&#8212;ST&#44; SLT&#44; TRX&#44; Sport and Laramie.</p>
<p>
<strong>Ram 2500 and 3500 Heavy Duty</strong>
<br/>Building on the success of its award&#45;winning sibling the Ram 1500&#44; the Ram 2500 and 3500 Heavy Duty pickups are starting to haul in their own awards. Since its resent introduction&#44; the all&#45;new Ram 2500&#47;3500 Heavy Duty has received a number of prestigious awards including Motor Trend&#39;s &#34;2010 Truck of the Year&#34;&#44; Four Wheeler&#39;s &#34;Pickup Truck of the Year&#34; and the Texas Auto Writers &#40;TAWA&#41; &#34;Heavy Duty Pickup Truck of Texas&#34;.</p>
<p>The 2010 Ram Heavy Duty brings increased capability and innovative new features to the heavy&#45;duty segment with an uncompromising attitude that remains the standard for all full&#45;size heavy&#45;duty pickups.</p>
<p>For 2010&#44; the Ram Heavy Duty is available for the first time in a crew&#45;size cab model&#44; providing Ram with a formidable entry in the highest&#45;volume part of the heavy&#45;duty pickup segment &#40;approximately 50 percent&#41;.</p>
<p>Ram Heavy Duty delivers the performance and amenities customers demand. The 2010 Ram Heavy Duty pickups feature a hydro&#45;formed&#44; fully boxed frame with advanced torsional rigidity and stiffness. A coil&#45;spring suspension setup is used up front&#44; while the multi&#45;leaf spring design is maintained in the rear for heavy&#45;duty capability. Front and rear shocks and springs are tuned for optimum ride quality and capability.</p>
<p>Improved suspension tuning and new C&#45;pillar hydro mounts were added to the 2010 Ram Heavy Duty models to improve damping through the frame&#45;bending mode frequency in order to better manage shake and after&#45;shake response. The result is reduced shake&#44; which means an improved ride for the customer.</p>
<p>The new 2010 Ram 2500 and 3500 pickups offer the only standard exhaust brake in the segment &#40;diesel&#45;equipped models&#41;. This feature reduces brake fade&#44; prolongs brake life and provides confidence and safety when hauling heavy loads on downhill grades. Large front &#40;360 mm&#41; and rear &#40;358 mm&#41; brakes with integrated Anti&#45;lock Brake System &#40;ABS&#41; increase brake life and braking stability.</p>
<p>An available integrated trailer brake control provides better driver control in towing situations. Trailer brake control information is conveniently displayed in the Electronic Vehicle Information Center &#40;EVIC&#41;&#44; which is standard on all Ram Heavy Duty models equipped with a diesel engine and available on gas SLT&#44; TRX and Laramie models.</p>
<p>Customers in the heavy&#45;duty segment have a range of needs&#44; and most of them involve high levels of capability. The new 2010 Ram 2500 and 3500 are designed to deliver a total package&#58;</p>
<ul>
<li>Increased Gross Vehicle Weight Rating &#40;GVWR&#41; on 2500 4x4 crew cab diesel models to 9&#44;600 pounds from 9&#44;000 pounds</li>
<li>Increased Gross Combined Weight Rating &#40;GCWR&#41; on 3500 dually models with diesel&#44; auto transmission and 4.10 rear axle to 24&#44;500 pounds from 24&#44;000 pounds. With the Max Tow Package&#44; GCWR increases to 25&#44;400 pounds &#40;late availability&#41;</li>
<li>Increased GCWR on 3500 4x2 models to 24&#44;000 pounds from 23&#44;000 pounds</li>
<li>Increased front Gross Axle Weight Rating &#40;GAWR&#41; on several models&#58;<ul>
<li>To 5&#44;500 pounds from 5&#44;200 pounds on diesel 4x4 pickups</li>
<li>To 5&#44;000 pounds from 4&#44;700 pounds on diesel 4x2 pickups</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p>Other towing features include improved trailer&#45;tow mirrors with integrated turn signals&#44; memory function and puddle lamps. The larger 7&#45;in. x 11&#45;in. trailer&#45;tow mirrors offer improved visibility with larger convex glass surfaces. The mirrors flip up and out in a vertical configuration for improved visibility around wide trailers. Trailer&#45;tow mirrors are now standard on 3500. As an added convenience&#44; a Class IV receiver is now standard on all Ram 2500 and 3500 Heavy Duty pickups.</p>
<p>Ram Heavy Duty towing&#44; payload and axle capacity all have been increased for 2010. Suspension upgrades and larger front&#45;axle U&#45;joints&#44; combined with increased front GAWR&#44; result in increased front weight&#45;carrying capability&#8212;a must for larger snowplows.</p>
<p>The Ram Power Wagon also returns for the 2010 model year&#44; equipped with electric&#45;locking front and rear differentials&#44; electronic disconnecting sway bar&#44; Bilstein shocks&#44; 32&#45;inch BFGoodrich off&#45;road tires&#44; underbody skid plate protection&#44; 4.56 axle ratio for hill climbing and a custom&#45;built Warn&#174; 12&#44;000&#45;pound winch that is accessible through the front bumper. The 2010 Ram Power Wagon features new exterior graphics and a lower two&#45;tone paint scheme.</p>
<p>Powertrain choices include the legendary 6.7&#45;liter Cummins Turbo Diesel engine&#44; which produces 350 horsepower &#40;261 kW&#41; at 3&#44;000 rpm and 650 lb.&#45;ft. of torque &#40;881 N&#8901;m&#41; at only 1&#44;500 rpm.</p>
<p>The most durable and reliable engine in its class&#44; the 6.7&#45;liter Cummins Turbo Diesel features standard oil&#45;change intervals of 7&#44;500 miles. It also has major&#45;overhaul intervals of 350&#44;000 miles&#44; providing more than a 100&#44;000&#45;mile advantage versus the competition.</p>
<p>The Cummins 6.7&#45;liter Turbo Diesel engine uses a Diesel Particulate Filter &#40;DPF&#41; to virtually eliminate particulate matter emissions and an adsorber catalyst to reduce oxides of nitrogen &#40;NOx&#41; by as much as 90 percent&#44; in order to meet stringent 2010.5 diesel emissions requirements.</p>
<p>Ram Heavy Duty&#39;s DPF is a lower cost&#44; lower maintenance alternative to Diesel Emission Fluid &#40;DEF&#41; injection systems.</p>
<p>The 2010 Ram Heavy Duty comes standard with the 5.7&#45;liter HEMI V&#45;8 gasoline engine&#44; delivering 383 horsepower &#40;286 kW&#41; at 5&#44;600 rpm and 400 lb.&#45;ft. of torque &#40;542 N&#8901;m&#41; at 4&#44;000 rpm. The 5.7&#45;liter HEMI was redesigned for 2009&#44; with several new and improved technologies including Variable&#45;valve Timing &#40;VVT&#41;&#44; increased compression ratio&#44; active intake manifold with long runners for low&#45;end torque and short runners for high&#45;rpm power&#44; improved cylinder head port flow efficiency and reduced&#45;restriction exhaust and induction systems.</p>
<p>The all&#45;new 2010 Ram Heavy Duty pickup was born from the same truck family that brought out the award&#45;winning Ram 1500&#44; Strategic Vision&#39;s Quality Award Winner.</p>
<p>The 2010 Ram Heavy Duty includes all&#45;new styling&#44; offering a tougher&#44; more capable look with improved aerodynamics and fit and finish. To accommodate cooling requirements of the 6.7&#45;liter Cummins Turbo Diesel engine&#44; the new 2010 Ram Heavy Duty grille opening is larger than the light&#45;duty grille. The larger grille mates to a taller hood that incorporates louvers on each side. Access to the front winch &#40;on Power Wagon models&#41; and tow hooks led to the unique front&#45;bumper design.</p>
<p>The new dual&#45;rear&#45;wheel fenders &#40;3500 dually only&#41; are now integrated into the box stamping and offer a smooth aerodynamic appearance.</p>
<p>
<strong>Ram 3500&#47;4500&#47;5500 Chassis Cab</strong>
<br/>Ram continues to enhance its commercial presence with the introduction of a &#34;new crew&#34; of commercial&#45;grade work trucks&#58; the new 2011 Ram 3500&#44; 4500 and 5500 Chassis Cabs. Led by an all&#45;new crew cab&#44; new 2011 Ram 3500&#44; 4500 and 5500 Chassis Cabs are built on a proven frame and chassis and engineered for maximum uptime&#44; optimum performance and enhanced commercial capability.</p>
<p>Ram 3500&#44; 4500 and 5500 Chassis Cabs compete within the Class 3&#45;5 segments with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating &#40;GVWR&#41; of 10&#44;200 to 19&#44;500 pounds and are targeted at small&#45;business tradesmen&#44; fleet customers and traditional chassis cab users.</p>
<p>The 2011 Ram 3500&#44; 4500 and 5500 Chassis Cabs offer the largest standard fuel tank &#40;52 gallons&#41;&#44; largest front&#45;brake rotors &#40;390 mm&#41; and calipers &#40;66 mm&#41; on the 4500&#47;5500 and a standard diesel&#45;exhaust brake.</p>
<p>Offered in regular cab&#44; crew cab&#44; single&#45;rear&#45;wheel &#40;3500 only&#41; and dual&#45;rear&#45;wheel models&#44; four cab&#45;axle lengths &#40;60&#44; 84&#44; 108 and 120 inches&#41; are available for 4500&#47;5500 models&#44; and two cab&#45;axle lengths &#40;60 and 84 inches&#41; are offered for the 3500 model. Three trim levels are offered&#58; ST&#44; SLT and Laramie.</p>
<p>The 2011 Ram 3500 models feature two axles with three axle ratios &#40;3.42&#44; 3.73 and 4.10&#41; and 17&#45;inch wheels&#44; while Ram 4500&#47;5500 models have one axle with three axle ratios &#40;4.10&#44; 4.44 and 4.88&#41; and 19.5&#45;inch wheels. All Ram Chassis Cab models are &#34;Job Rated&#44;&#34; meaning they are designed&#44; engineered&#44; tested and built to meet rigid standards of commercial truck buyers.</p>
<p>Improved standard features include a six&#45;speed manual transmission&#44; increased GVWR &#40;13&#44;000 pounds from 12&#44;500 pounds on 3500 diesel model&#41;&#44; an &#40;EVIC&#41; integrated into the instrument cluster&#44; four upfitter switches&#44; increased alternator size on diesel &#40;180&#45;amps&#41;&#44; automatic headlamps&#44; an upgraded HEMI engine&#44; second&#45;row headrests and rear heating&#44; ventilation and air conditioning &#40;HVAC&#41; ducts.</p>
<p>Ram&#39;s &#34;new crew&#34; of trucks are built on a road&#45;tested&#44; proven commercial&#45;grade frame and suspension system with best&#45;in&#45;class frame steel strength &#40;50&#44;000&#45;psi&#41;. Maintaining its common architecture for commercial applications&#44; the one&#45;piece C&#45;channel rear&#45;frame rail&#39;s riveted crossmembers provide more durability than traditional welds or bolts. In addition&#44; rivets allow for easy removal and&#47;or replacement of components during upfits and modifications.</p>
<p>Maximum upfit&#45;friendliness is achieved with industry&#45;standard 34&#45;inch frame&#45;rail spacing and flat&#44; clean frame rails on a proven one&#45;piece C&#45;channel rear&#45;frame rail boasting 50&#44;000&#45;psi steel strength &#40;best&#45;in&#45;class for 3500 model&#41;. All chassis components are below the frame surface allowing easy adaptability and versatility for virtually any upfit application.</p>
<p>Further improving upfitter&#45;friendliness&#44; new 2011 Ram 3500&#44; 4500 and 5500 Chassis Cabs feature four all&#45;new upfitter switches integrated on the instrument panel. Each of these four upfitter switches are linked to an auxiliary Power Distribution Center &#40;PDC&#41; located under the hood&#44; which includes one fused 20&#45;amp battery feed and one fused relay&#45;controlled 20&#45;amp ignition.</p>
<p>The legendary&#44; proven 6.7&#45;liter Cummins High&#45;Output Turbo Diesel is the benchmark for reliability and performance. The engine&#44; optional on Ram 3500 models and standard on 4500 and 5500 models&#44; offers best&#45;in&#45;class low end toque and generates 305 horsepower &#40;227 kW&#41; at 2&#44;900 rpm and 610 lb.&#45;ft. &#40;827 N&#8901;m&#41; of torque at 1&#44;600 rpm. Inherently reliable with fewer moving parts than competitive V&#45;8 diesel engines&#44; the Cummins engine delivers best&#45;in&#45;class fuel economy &#40;4500 and 5500 models&#41; and ensures commercial capability&#44; durability and low cost of ownership. With the Cummins 6.7&#45;liter Turbo Diesel&#44; an optional 3.42 axle ratio is available on the 2011 Ram 3500 Chassis Cab for improved fuel economy. Customers with serious trailer&#45;tow needs will enjoy Ram 3500&#39;s new optional 26&#44;000 lb GCWR on 6.7&#45;liter diesel manual trucks with a 4.10 axle ratio.</p>
<p>The 6.7&#45;liter Cummins features a factory&#45;installed segment&#45;exclusive exhaust brake. The Cummins design works with the Variable&#45;geometry Turbocharger &#40;VGT&#41; and offers multiple benefits including reduced brake wear and longer brake life&#44; which may lengthen service intervals&#44; and enhanced safety benefits including increased braking effectiveness and greater controlof the vehicle.</p>
<p>The 6.7&#45;liter engine is cleaner&#44; with a reduction in particulates and nitrogen oxide &#40;NOx&#41; that comply with both 50&#45;state heavy&#45;duty emission standards and 2010 diesel emissions compliance thanks to an all&#45;new diesel exhaust fluid injection system with urea injection Selective Catalyst Reduction &#40;SCR&#41; technology.</p>
<p>Cummins diesel&#45;equipped chassis cabs are in full compliance with stringent new emissions&#45;at&#45;idle laws&#44; with the distinction that Ram is the only brand to offer a 50&#45;state emissions package and exterior label allowing drivers to idle without time restrictions in California and other Air Resource Board &#40;ARB&#41; states. This is a no&#45;cost option.</p>
<p>The new 2011 Ram 3500 Chassis Cab comes standard with a new&#45;generation 5.7&#45;liter HEMI V&#45;8 with Variable&#45;valve Timing &#40;VVT&#41; that will appeal to customers who require a gas engine. Providing more power and torque with better fuel economy&#44; the engine incorporates a 9&#45;percent higher compression ratio &#40;10.5&#58;1&#41;&#44; Variable&#45;valve Timing and an active intake&#45;manifold. These technologies&#44; combined with engine and powertrain integration improvements&#44; result in a 4 percent improvement in fuel economy&#44; improved idle quality and overall refinement. HEMI&#45;powered 2011 Ram 3500 Chassis Cabs are rated at 383 horsepower &#40;286 kW&#41; at 5&#44;600 rpm and 400 lb.&#45;ft. &#40;542 N&#8901;m&#41; of torque at 4&#44;000 rpm.</p>
<p>Completing the package&#44; Ram 3500&#44; 4500 and 5500 Chassis Cabs offer a proven six&#45;speed Aisin automatic transmission &#40;complete with a 3&#45;year&#47;180&#44;000&#45;mile warranty&#41; with Power Take&#45;Off &#40;PTO&#41; capability or a six&#45;speed manual transmission with PTO capability. The proven commercial&#45;grade six&#45;speed automatic is a completely electronically controlled transmission that features excellent shift quality &#40;using advanced electro&#45;hydraulic clutch&#45;to&#45;clutch control&#41; and close gear ratios with static and mobile PTO capability. With outstanding shift performance and more control&#44; the six&#45;speed manual transmission achieves a high&#45;ratio sixth gear for longer highway cruising. An available electronic&#45;shift transfer case is offered also on SLT and Laramie models.</p>
<p>The Aisin six&#45;speed automatic transmission includes two significant enhancements to the PTO function. The torque converter locks up in PTO mode for better fuel economy and speed control while using aerial lifts and air compressors. Customers also have the ability to program a precise engine RPM that is activated immediately when the PTO is engaged. This eliminates the need to toggle up to the desired engine RPM.</p>
<p>For the 2011 Ram 3500 Chassis Cab&#44; larger front axle U&#45;joints were developed&#44; and front GAWR was increased on diesel trucks to 5&#44;500 pounds from 5&#44;200. This results in increased front weight&#45;carrying capability&#44; allowing the use of larger snowplows.</p>
<p>Engineered to deliver precise feel and response for better handling&#44; the new 2011 Ram Chassis Cab&#39;s steering and suspension system boast superb strength with a focus on improved load capacity&#44; increased durability and refined handling. Two&#45;wheel&#45;drive and four&#45;wheel&#45;drive models feature a recirculating ball system that provides precise response and an on&#45;center steering feel through lower internal friction.</p>
<p>Featuring solid front and rear axles and a five&#45;link&#44; coil&#45;spring front suspension with solid axle&#44; a front and rear link&#45;type sway bar and heavy&#45;duty tubular shock absorbers are standard. The rear suspension on two&#45; and four&#45;wheel&#45;drive models is equipped with leaf springs and includes standard two&#45;stage springs as part of the design for greater load&#45;carrying capability and better ride with light loads.</p>
<p>Large external mirrors are new for 2011&#44; giving drivers a more useable area while improving aerodynamics and minimizing wind noise. Larger&#44; 7&#45;in. x 11&#45;in. mirrors for trailer towing are standard. Mirrors flip up and out into a vertical configuration for trailer&#45;tow use.</p>
<p>Interior design elements include a balance of work truck functionality and&#44; as desired&#44; refined&#44; upscale comfort. Interior comfort and convenience features include all&#45;new heated and ventilated seats&#44; heated steering wheel&#44; memory functions&#44; automatic temperature control&#44; express&#45;up&#47;down windows and upper and lower glove boxes. Redesigned seats are significantly more comfortable with more surface area and improved lumbar and lateral support. Interiors feature soft&#45;feel door bolsters and armrests and one&#45;piece molded door panels. The center stack is designed for optimum placement of controls in the most intuitive and comfortable locations.</p>
<p>Storage is top&#45;of&#45;mind for those who use their truck as an office. A new&#45;for&#45;2011 available center console features an upper bin that is large enough to hold a laptop computer &#40;with an accessible power outlet&#41; and a lower bin that accommodates hanging files. In addition&#44; the console offers several other storage compartments.</p>
<p>Other storage locations are built into the instrument panel&#44; front and rear&#45;door panels and seat backs. Upper and lower glove boxes provide a total of more than 800 cubic&#45;inches of storage.</p>
<p>With a network of more than 400 dealers&#44; Dodge BusinessLink features dedicated commercial account managers and sales teams&#44; priority next&#45;bay service and maintenance&#44; extended hours&#44; free loaner vehicles and inventories with a higher mix of work trucks and commercial vehicles. Dodge&#39;s &#34;On The Job&#34; program offers discounts on upfits&#44; cash incentives and other customer savings.</p>
<p>
<strong>About Ram Brand</strong>
<br/>With a work&#45;hard&#44; play&#45;hard attitude&#44; the Ram Truck brand offers the boldest&#44; most powerful and capable pickup truck lineup on the planet.</p>
<p>The Ram Truck brand will add to its award&#45;winning truck lineup with the introduction of it all&#45;new 2010 Ram 2500 and 3500 Heavy Duty trucks&#44; Motor Trend&#39;s Truck of the Year. The new heavy&#45;duty trucks provide customers with first&#45;time innovations and features along with new standards of strength&#44; utility and driveability&#44; building on the Ram&#39;s leadership in the heavy&#45;duty pickup segment.</p>
<p>Introduced in 2008&#44; the Ram 1500 is a game changer in terms of its ability to &#34;outsmart&#34; and &#34;out&#45;tough&#34; the competition with its bold exterior design&#44; crafted and refined interior&#44; engineering excellence&#44; superb innovation and best&#45;in&#45;class features and amenities. The Ram 1500 also ranks at the top of Strategic Vision Inc.&#39;s &#40;SVI&#41; 2009 Total Quality Index&#8482; &#40;TQI&#41; in the full&#45;size truck segment. According to the survey&#44; the Ram 1500 leads the way with the highest Total Quality score of any truck in the 15&#45;year history of the study. Customers specifically noted that the Ram has the best added storage capability along with the best truck interior ever rated by customers.</p>
<p>The Ram Truck brand will further enhance its commercial vehicle presence with the introduction of a &#34;new crew&#34; of commercial&#45;grade work trucks&#58; the new 2011 Ram 3500&#44; 4500 and 5500 Chassis Cabs. Led by an all&#45;new crew cab&#44; the new 2011 Ram Chassis Cabs are built on a proven frame and chassis&#44; and engineered for maximum uptime&#44; optimum performance and enhanced commercial capability.</p>]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">2010_1_07_Dodge_ram_truck_continues_to_refine</guid><pubDate>January 7, 2010</pubDate><category>dodge_news dodge internal 2010 awards ram_chassis_cab ram</category><source url="http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news">Chrysler Media Services LLC</source><dc:subject name="Dodge News" category="System Tag">dodge_news</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Dodge" category="System Tag">dodge</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Recent News From" category="System Tag">internal</dc:subject><dc:subject name="2010" category="System Tag">2010</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Awards" category="Automotive">awards</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Ram Chassis Cab" category="Dodge Vehicles">ram_chassis_cab</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Ram" category="Dodge Vehicles">ram</dc:subject></item>
<item><title>Dodge: The Full-of-Life Brand Delivers More Style, Capability and Value Than Ever Before</title><link>http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news/articles/?guid=2010_1_07_Dodge_style_capability_value</link><description><![CDATA[
<p>Auburn Hills&#44; Mich.&#44; Jan 7&#44; 2010  &#45;  The Dodge Car brand heads into the new calendar year with added driving excitement and numerous product enhancements that deliver more performance&#44; capability and style.</p>
<p>&#34;For 2010&#44; the Dodge brand&#39;s new lifestyle model lineup delivers rides with more excitement&#44; features and value than ever before&#44;&#34; said Ralph Gilles &#8212; President and CEO&#44; Dodge Brand&#44; Chrysler Group LLC. &#34;From the restyled interior of the new Dodge Caliber&#44; to the 23 percent more standard horsepower in the re&#45;excited Dodge Nitro lineup&#44; to the new content&#45;loaded Dodge Journey and Dodge Avenger models&#44; we have packed in more features throughout the Dodge product lineups to empower our customers to do more&#44; have more fun and live their lives to the fullest.&#34;</p>
<p>
<strong>New 2010 Dodge Journey models&#58; more capability&#44; value and refinement</strong>
<br/>Delivering more excitement&#44; functionality and value&#44; the 2010 Dodge Journey offers several all&#45;new models packed with upgraded features&#44; all&#45;wheel&#45;drive capability at a best&#45;in&#45;class price and seven&#45;passenger seating to give customers everything they need packaged at a value they can afford.</p>
<p>Dodge has taken &#34;base model&#34; out of its vocabulary. Compared with its previous lineup&#44; the new entry&#45;level Dodge Journey model gives customers a slew of standard features&#44; including 17&#45;inch aluminum wheels&#44; cruise control&#44; sunscreen glass&#44; body&#45;color mirrors&#44; floor mats and passenger grab handles. A standard fuel&#45;efficient 2.4&#45;liter World Engine powers the Dodge Journey and delivers 25 miles per gallon &#40;mpg&#41; highway fuel economy. The U.S. Manufacturer&#39;s Suggested Retail Price &#40;MSRP&#41; for the 2010 Dodge Journey is &#36;20&#44;995 &#40;including &#36;675 destination&#41;.</p>
<p>For young families who need more seating&#44; the Express package on the entry&#45;level Dodge Journey model includes 5&#43;2 Flexible Seating&#44; providing a third row that allows owners to comfortably seat seven passengers. MSRP for the Dodge Journey with the Express package is &#36;21&#44;995 &#40;including &#36;675 destination&#41;.</p>
<p>For customers who want more power&#44; the all&#45;new Hero package adds a powerful 3.5&#45;liter V&#45;6 engine that delivers 35 percent more power and 40 percent more torque. This quality&#45;proven 235 horsepower &#40;175 kW&#41; 3.5&#45;liter V&#45;6 engine with dual exhausts paired with a six&#45;speed transmission adds more capability&#44; driving performance and 24 mpg highway fuel economy to the Dodge Journey&#44; as well as seven passenger seating. MSRP for the 2010 Dodge Journey with the Hero package is &#36;22&#44;995 &#40;including &#36;675 destination&#41;.</p>
<p>With its best&#45;in&#45;class price &#8212; and the ultimate value in the 2010 Dodge Journey lineup &#8212; the all&#45;new Dodge Journey Hero package also features an available electronically controlled all&#45;wheel&#45;drive &#40;AWD&#41; system. The fun&#45;to&#45;drive 3.5&#45;liter V&#45;6 engine with dual exhausts and six&#45;speed Auto Stick transmission&#44; as well as 19&#45;inch aluminum wheels&#44; are standard. MSRP for the 2010 Dodge Journey with the Hero package and AWD is &#36;23&#44;995 &#40;including &#36;675 destination&#41;.</p>
<p>Attracting singles and young families looking for style&#44; performance and capability&#44; the new Dodge Journey Heat model includes Uconnect&#8482; Phone&#44; iPod&#174; Control&#44; SIRIUS Satellite Radio&#44; auto&#45;dimming rear&#45;view mirror&#44; remote start&#44; Electronic Vehicle Information Center &#40;EVIC&#41;&#44; HomeLink universal transceiver&#44; tonneau cover and six premium speakers with subwoofer. In addition to its 3.5&#45;liter V&#45;6 engine with six&#45;speed Auto Stick transmission&#44; Dodge Journey Heat features five&#45;passenger seating&#44; a tri&#45;folding cargo&#45;load floor with additional storage space beneath&#44; 19&#45;inch aluminum wheels and large chromed&#45;tip dual exhausts. MSRP for the 2010 Dodge Journey Heat is &#36;24&#44;995 &#40;including &#36;675 destination&#41;.</p>
<p>A true family vehicle loaded with comfort&#44; premium amenities and refinement&#8212;the new 2010 Dodge Journey Crew adds even more standard features to the well&#45;equipped Dodge Journey Heat model&#44; including the 5&#43;2 Flexible Seating Group for seven&#45;passenger seating&#44; automatic climate control&#44; premium gauge cluster&#44; 9&#45;inch rear DVD entertainment system&#44; chromed interior accents&#44; chromed roof rack&#44; chromed door handles&#44; 19&#45;inch painted machined wheels and body&#45;color side sills. MSRP for the 2010 Dodge Journey Crew is &#36;25&#44;995 &#40;including &#36;675 destination&#41;.</p>
<p>For luxury&#45;minded customers who want it all&#44; the new Dodge Journey Uptown takes it up a notch with leather&#45;trimmed seven&#45;passenger seating&#44; power sun roof&#44; Media Center 730N navigation system with 30&#45;gigabyte hard drive and real&#45;time traffic monitoring&#44; Parkview&#8482; rear back&#45;up camera&#44; rear&#45;seat DVD entertainment system&#44; 19&#45;inch chromed wheels&#44; and chromed body&#45;side molding. MSRP for the 2010 Dodge Journey Uptown is &#36;29&#44;995 &#40;including &#36;675 destination&#41;.</p>
<p>All Dodge Journey models offer all&#45;weather AWD capability with an Electronically&#45;controlled Coupling &#40;ECC&#41; for instant torque transfer to the rear wheels when needed. The ECC delivers up to 50&#58;50 front&#47;rear torque bias for maximum all&#45;weather traction.</p>
<p>The 2010 Dodge Journey also is a 2010 Top Safety Pick according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety &#40;IIHS&#41;.</p>
<p>
<strong>2010 Dodge Caliber&#58; all&#45;new interior and new model lineup</strong>
<br/>The Dodge Car brand&#39;s compact car gets an all&#45;new refined interior for 2010. Executed with premium materials and detailed craftsmanship&#44; Caliber has an all&#45;new instrument panel design that features a more integrated look and improved ergonomics.</p>
<p>New for 2010 are an additional cubby storage space&#44; center storage bin&#44; larger climate controls and seamless passenger airbag cover. Bright Satin Silver accents add contrast to Dodge Caliber&#39;s interior design&#44; while chromed accents brighten heating&#44; ventilation and air conditioning &#40;HVAC&#41; vents&#44; shift bezel&#44; door handles and cluster rings. New door&#45;trim panels and center console with armrest split&#45;lid feature padded soft&#45;touch materials for improved passenger comfort.</p>
<p>In addition&#44; the new 2010 Dodge Caliber features new lifestyle&#45;oriented models &#40;Express&#44; Mainstreet&#44; Heat&#44; Uptown and Rush&#41; bundled with more features.</p>
<p>For customers looking for efficiency and value&#44; the new 2010 Dodge Caliber Express delivers with standard Uconnect Phone&#44; iPod Control&#44; auto&#45;dimming rear&#45;view mirror&#44; SIRIUS Satellite Radio&#44; power windows&#44; mirrors and locks&#44; 115&#45;volt power outlet&#44; cruise control&#44; remote keyless entry&#44; tonneau cover&#44; air conditioning&#44; four&#45;wheel Anti&#45;lock Brake System &#40;ABS&#41; and 2.0&#45;liter 16&#45;valve World Engine with fuel&#45;efficient five&#45;speed manual transmission capable of 31 mpg on the highway. MSRP for the 2010 Dodge Caliber Express is &#36;17&#44;310 &#40;including &#36;630 destination&#41;.</p>
<p>The new Dodge Caliber Mainstreet offers the features of the Dodge Caliber Express with added capability and style featuring standard 17&#45;inch aluminum wheels&#44; chromed crosshair grille&#44; body&#45;color door handles&#44; fog lamps&#44; folding front&#45;passenger seat&#44; 60&#47;40 split&#45;folding and reclining rear seat&#44; touring suspension&#44; tachometer and 2.0&#45;liter 16&#45;valve World Engine with second&#45;generation Continuously&#45;variable Transmission &#40;CVT2&#41;. MSRP for the 2010 Dodge Caliber Mainstreet is &#36;18&#44;890 &#40;including &#36;630 destination&#41;.</p>
<p>For customers looking for capability combined with added technology and refinement&#44; the new Dodge Caliber Uptown adds automatic climate control&#44; five&#45;passenger leather seating&#44; power driver&#39;s seat and four&#45;wheel Anti&#45;lock disc Brakes &#40;ABS&#41; to the Caliber Mainstreet. The Premium Sound Group kicks&#45;up the tunes with the MusicGate Power&#8482; nine&#45;speaker Boston Acoustics system&#44; steering&#45;wheel mounted audio controls and two articulating liftgate speakers. MSRP for the 2010 Dodge Caliber Mainstreet is &#36;20&#44;625 &#40;including &#36;630 destination&#41;.</p>
<p>Compact car buyers looking for a sportier ride have two options from which to choose. The all&#45;new Dodge Caliber Heat model takes the Caliber Mainstreet model and adds a sport&#45;tuned suspension&#44; 18&#45;inch polished&#45;aluminum wheels&#44; four&#45;wheel Anti&#45;lock disc Brakes &#40;ABS&#41;&#44; performance steering&#44; color&#45;keyed instrument panel and seats&#44; B&#45; and C&#45;pillar blackout accents and five&#45;speed manual transmission. MSRP for the 2010 Dodge Caliber Heat is &#36;18&#44;625 &#40;including &#36;630 destination&#41;.</p>
<p>And for more power&#44; Dodge Caliber Rush includes a unique five&#45;speed manual transmission mated to a larger 2.4&#45;liter World Engine with 172 horsepower &#40;128 kW&#41; and 165 ft.&#45;lb. &#40;224 N&#8901;m&#41; of torque. Equipment differences from the Caliber Heat include 18&#45;inch chrome&#45;clad wheels&#44; SRT&#45;designed spoiler&#44; automatic climate control&#44; Premium Sound Group&#44; Media Center 430 radio with touchscreen and 30&#45;gigabyte hard drive. A CVT2 with Auto Stick is optional. MSRP for the 2010 Dodge Caliber Rush is &#36;20&#44;625 &#40;including &#36;630 destination&#41;.</p>
<p>The all&#45;new Dodge Caliber lineup will arrive at Dodge dealerships nationwide in the first&#45;quarter of 2010.</p>
<p>
<strong>All&#45;new Dodge Nitro model lineup gives more bang for your buck</strong>
<br/>The Dodge Nitro lineup has been revised and renamed for 2010&#44; offering new exterior and interior styling and new standard features and safety equipment for 2010. These new models &#40;Heat&#44; Detonator and Shock&#41; provide Nitro customers with more standard content&#44; including a standard 4.0&#45;liter V&#45;6 engine&#44; 20&#45;inch aluminum wheels&#44; eight premium speakers with a 368&#45;watt amplifier and 9&#45;inch subwoofer&#44; deep&#45;tinted glass&#44; Uconnect Phone&#44; iPod Control&#44; SIRIUS Satellite Radio&#44; auto&#45;dimming rear&#45;view mirror&#44; speed control and security alarm.</p>
<p>In addition to the curb appeal gained from its 20&#45;inch painted Mopar&#174; aluminum wheels and body&#45;color grille with bright billets&#44; the 2010 Dodge Nitro Heat packs a punch with 23 percent more horsepower and 12 percent more torque than the previous entry&#45;level model. With its aluminum 4.0&#45;liter overhead cam V&#45;6 engine&#44; the Nitro Heat&#44; and the entire Nitro lineup&#44; delivers 260 horsepower &#40;194 kW&#41; and 265 lb.&#45;ft. &#40;359 N&#8901;m&#41; of torque with a five&#45;speed automatic transmission. MSRP for the 2010 Dodge Nitro Heat is &#36;23&#44;995 &#40;including &#36;745 destination&#41;.</p>
<p>The Dodge Nitro Detonator offers new exterior design cues&#44; as well as standard interior and safety features that were previously optional on the former SXT model. The new Dodge Detonator model features 20&#45;inch Mopar polished&#47;painted aluminum wheels&#44; hood decal&#44; eight speakers plus subwoofer&#44; remote start&#44; ParkSense&#174; rear&#45;park assist and color&#45;keyed premium cloth interior that matches the exterior paint color. MSRP for the 2010 Dodge Nitro Detonator is &#36;25&#44;995 &#40;including &#36;745 destination&#41;.</p>
<p>The Dodge Nitro Shock adds heated leather seats and a sun roof to the Nitro Detonator model. MSRP for the 2010 Dodge Nitro Shock is &#36;26&#44;995 &#40;including &#36;745 destination&#41;.</p>
<p>The new 2010 Dodge Nitro lineup is now available in nine exterior colors&#44; including Detonator Yellow Clear Coat &#40;late availability&#41;.</p>
<p>
<strong>New 2010 Dodge Avenger&#58; standard connectivity features &#61; more fun&#45;to&#45;drive</strong>
<br/>Dodge Avenger combines bold&#44; aggressive Dodge styling with innovative interior features&#44; high levels of safety and reliability&#44; exhilarating performance and excellent fuel efficiency of 30 mpg on the highway. The new Dodge Avenger lineup includes two new models &#40;Express and Heat&#41; that are loaded with standard features.</p>
<p>The all&#45;new Dodge Avenger Express is priced &#36;1&#44;000 less than the previous entry&#45;level model and adds Uconnect Phone&#44; iPod Control&#44; auto&#45;dimming rear&#45;view mirror&#44; SIRIUS Satellite Radio&#44; power driver&#39;s seat&#44; heated premium cloth seats&#44; heated exterior mirrors&#44; leather&#45;wrapped steering wheel and shift knob&#44; chromed interior accents&#44; Media Center 430 radio with touchscreen and 30&#45;gigabyte hard drive&#44; steering&#45;wheel mounted audio controls&#44; 17&#45;inch aluminum wheels&#44; chromed crosshair grille and 2.4&#45;liter World Engine with automatic transmission. MSRP for the 2010 Dodge Avenger Express is &#36;19&#44;970 &#40;including &#36;740 destination&#41;.</p>
<p>In addition&#44; the new Dodge Avenger Heat adds to the Avenger Express&#39; high level of content with an MSRP &#36;1&#44;500 less than the model it replaces. The Avenger Express includes fog lamps&#44; rear spoiler&#44; 18&#45;inch aluminum wheels&#44; body&#45;color crosshair grille and six Boston Acoustics speakers. An optional Boost package adds more performance with a 235 horsepower &#40;175 kW&#41; 3.5&#45;liter V&#45;6 engine&#44; chromed dual exhausts&#44; sport&#45;tuned suspension&#44; performance steering and six&#45;speed transmission with Auto Stick. MSRP for the 2010 Dodge Avenger Heat is &#36;20&#44;970 &#40;including &#36;740 destination&#41;.</p>
<p>The 2010 Dodge Avenger&#44; with Electronic Stability Control &#40;ESC&#41;&#44; is a 2010 Top Safety Pick according to the IIHS.</p>
<p>
<strong>Dodge Challenger&#39;s Gone Plum Crazy</strong>
<br/>Combining two legendary icons of Dodge pony&#45;car history &#8212; HEMI V&#45;8 power and Plum Crazy Pearl Coat paint &#8212; the new Plum Crazy limited&#45;edition 2010 Dodge Challenger R&#47;T Classic and SRT8 performance coupe deliver more excitement to the streets. Both Dodge Challenger models deliver the best of modern American muscle&#45;car characteristics &#8212; unmistakable design&#44; world&#45;class handling&#44; powerful HEMI&#174; V&#45;8 engines and technology &#8212; now with an extra dose of nostalgia.</p>
<p>For the hardcore Dodge enthusiast&#44; all&#45;new Katzkin leather seat sets are available in bright white with Plum Crazy piping to highlight these unique Dodge Challengers&#39; exterior paint and stripes. Additional Katzkin leather seat seats are available directly through Mopar&#174;.</p>
<p>Dodge Challenger R&#47;T Classic Plum Crazy models feature dual&#45;wide A&#45;line body&#45;side R&#47;T stripes in matte black or new bright white. Completing the look are &#34;Challenger&#34; fender badges in classic script&#44; large 20&#45;inch polished&#45;aluminum heritage wheels with all&#45;season performance tires&#44; classic egg&#45;crate grille with heritage &#34;R&#47;T&#34; badge&#44; body&#45;color rear spoiler&#44; functional hood scoop and bright racing style fuel&#45;filler door.</p>
<p>Delivering even more punch&#44; the 2010 Dodge Challenger SRT8 Plum Crazy edition delivers even more exclusivity with a 6.1&#45;liter HEMI V&#45;8 engine producing 425 horsepower and 420 lb.&#45;ft. of torque&#44; performance&#45;tuned ride and handling&#44; benchmark braking and race&#45;inspired interior with unique SRT&#45;designed appointments and exterior&#45;matching SRT performance seats with Plum Crazy accented stripe.</p>
<p>The MSRP for the new 2010 Dodge Challenger R&#47;T Classic in Plum Crazy Pearl Coat is &#36;35&#44;140&#44; while the high&#45;performance SRT8 model is &#36;44&#44;155 &#40;both prices include &#36;725 destination&#41;. Both Plum Crazy models are available for ordering now at Dodge dealerships nationwide.</p>
<p>
<strong>The ultimate American performance car icon&#58; Dodge Viper SRT10</strong>
<br/>For the final year of production for the current generation Dodge Viper SRT10&#44; Dodge plans to deliver a vehicle lineup like no other since the introduction of the iconic American sports car in 1992.</p>
<p>The heart of the 2010 Dodge Viper SRT10 remains the venerable 8.4&#45;liter &#40;510 cu. in.&#41; V&#45;10 engine that produces 600 &#40;450 kW&#41; horsepower and 560 lb.&#45;ft. &#40;760 N&#8901;m&#41; of torque. Benchmark performance numbers&#44; including 0&#45;60 mph in less than 4 seconds&#44; quarter&#45;mile time in the mid 11&#45;second range and 0&#45;100&#45;0 mph in 11 seconds flat and a top speed of 202 mph&#44; continue to prove how the serious&#44; race&#45;inspired&#44; street&#45;legal two&#45;seater performs without apology.</p>
<p>Body style offerings remain unchanged with the availability of Roadster and Coupe models along with the ACR &#40;American Club Racer&#41; package. Approximately 500 vehicles will be built for the 2010 model year.</p>
<p>With the introduction of two new exterior colors&#44; Toxic Orange Pearl Coat and Bright Silver Metallic Clear Coat&#44; Dodge Viper SRT10 is now available in 12 different colors&#44; the most regularly available choices in one model year. And with six stripe options in the new wider configuration&#44; five different interior color combinations&#44; four different wheel choices and three available interior bezels; the 2010 Viper SRT10 will be available in more than 7&#44;600 combinations &#8212; the most for any one model year &#8212; significantly adding to the exclusivity of each car like never before.</p>
<p>New across the Viper lineup is a shorter fifth gear ratio &#40;changing from 0.74 to 0.80&#41; for improved high&#45;speed acceleration and higher straightaway speeds. Acceleration from 0&#45;200 mph has improved by 14 seconds. This improvement is a direct result of the Chrysler Group LLC Street and Racing Technology team&#39;s experience at the 12.9&#45;mile N&#252;rburgring Nordschleife circuit in Germany&#44; where during the lap&#45;record run in 2008&#44; it was found that a revised gear ratio would have resulted in higher top gear acceleration and a quicker lap time.</p>
<p>
<strong>Viper SRT10 ACR</strong>
<br/>The Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR receives a new short&#45;throw shifter in 2010 for enhanced driver experience and better performance. The rear wing profile and end plates are redesigned to further optimize the vehicle aerodynamics and improve rear yaw downforce. These changes&#44; combined with the new fifth gear ratio&#44; result in an increased top speed of 4 mph &#40;to 184 mph for the ACR model&#41;.</p>
<p>The enhanced four&#45;wheel independent suspension features high&#45;performance aluminum control arms and knuckles&#44; and KW suspension with two&#45;way adjustable competition coil&#45;over shock absorbers with remote reservoirs.</p>
<p>The aerodynamic package features a carbon fiber &#34;fanged&#34; splitter in front and adjustable carbon&#45;fiber wing with seven&#45;position stanchions that allow as much as 1&#44;000 lbs. of downforce at 150 mph. Lightweight wheels&#44; two&#45;piece slotted StopTech brake rotors and Michelin PS Cup tires round out the Dodge Viper ACR package.</p>
<p>
<strong>New Special&#44; Limited&#45;edition Dodge Viper Models</strong>
<br/>Numerous special&#44; limited&#45;edition models are planned for the 2010 model year&#44; including the Dodge Viper ACR 1&#58;33 Edition&#44; which will pay tribute to the new production car lap record set on Nov. 24&#44; 2009 at Laguna Seca raceway. The unique two&#45;tone Black Clear Coat&#47;Red Clear Coat exterior color scheme on this model is the opposite form of the original Viper ACR. Interior features include piano black console bezels with red gauge highlights complemented with red accent stitching in the seats. Only 33 cars will be produced as 1&#58;33 Edition Viper ACR models.</p>
<p>Additional special edition models will be announced closer to their individual introductions.</p>
<p>
<strong>About Dodge</strong>
<br/>Dodge is a full line of cars&#44; SUVs and MPVs that are agile&#44; daring&#44; sensible and inventive. The product line includes the Dodge Caliber&#44; Dodge Avenger&#44; Dodge Challenger&#44; Dodge Charger&#44; Dodge Grand Caravan&#44; Dodge Journey&#44; Dodge Nitro and Dodge Viper SRT10.</p>
<p>Dodge introduced two new vehicles for the 2009 model year&#58; the all&#45;new 2009 Dodge Journey&#44; the brand&#39;s first crossover vehicle and the 2009 Dodge Challenger&#44; a modern&#45;day American muscle car. Dodge also celebrated the 25th anniversary of the minivan during the 2009 model year. With more than 65 minivan&#45;firsts introduced since 1983 and more than 12 million Dodge and Chrysler minivans sold&#44; Chrysler Group LLC has solidified its leadership in the segment. J.D. Power and Associates further acknowledged this leadership by naming the Dodge Grand Caravan the Most Dependable Van for 2009. The 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan continues to set the mark in the minivan segment with unsurpassed fuel economy of 17 city &#47; 25 highway mpg and minivan&#45;first innovations including the segment&#39;s only Stow &#8216;n Go&#174; and Swivel &#8216;n Go&#8482; seating and storage systems. The 2010 Dodge Avenger&#44; with ESC&#44; also earned the 2009 Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS.</p>
<p>In 2008 calendar year&#44; the Dodge Journey entered key volume markets outside North America&#44; joining the Dodge Avenger&#44; Nitro and Caliber. Dodge Caliber was the highest sales volume vehicle for the company outside North America in 2008.</p>]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">2010_1_07_Dodge_style_capability_value</guid><pubDate>January 7, 2010</pubDate><category>dodge_news dodge internal 2010 viper nitro journey avenger challenger caliber</category><source url="http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news">Chrysler Media Services LLC</source><dc:subject name="Dodge News" category="System Tag">dodge_news</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Dodge" category="System Tag">dodge</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Recent News From" category="System Tag">internal</dc:subject><dc:subject name="2010" category="System Tag">2010</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Viper" category="Dodge Vehicles">viper</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Nitro" category="Dodge Vehicles">nitro</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Journey" category="Dodge Vehicles">journey</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Avenger" category="Dodge Vehicles">avenger</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Challenger" category="Dodge Vehicles">challenger</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Caliber" category="Dodge Vehicles">caliber</dc:subject></item>
<item><title>Chrysler Group LLC Introduces Fiat's 1.4-liter, In-line 4-cylinder, Fully Integrated Robotized Engine with Multiair Technology to Powertrain Lineup</title><link>http://www.jeep.com/en/experience/news/articles/?guid=2009_12_17_robotized_engine</link><description><![CDATA[
<p>Auburn Hills, Mich. , Dec 17, 2009  -  Chrysler Group LLC will debut Fiat's 1.4-liter, in-line four-cylinder Fully Integrated Robitized Engine (FIRE) featuring Multiair in the Fiat 500 starting in 2010. The engine, well-suited for a small car application, delivers 100 horsepower (75 kW) at 6,750 rpm and 95 lb.-ft. (129 N&#183;m) of torque at 4,250 rpm. A turbo version also will be available in future applications. The 1.4-liter FIRE features Fiat's Multiair technology, which significantly reduces emissions while improving fuel economy and power delivery.</p>
<p>The 1.4-liter FIRE features four valves per cylinder and incorporates state-of-the-art technology for Fully Variable Valve Actuation (FVVA), also known as MultiAir. Multiair is a sophisticated technology that delivers an increase in power up to 10 percent and a reduction in fuel consumption and emissions up to 10 percent when compared to similar engines. A turbo version of the engine is also planned and will produce a fuel economy improvement up to 25 percent when compared to a V-6 engine with equivalent power.</p>
<p>The MultiAir system consists of electro-hydraulic variable valve actuators filled with conventional oil, which is interposed between the camshaft and each valve. A solenoid valve is energized every 360-degree camshaft rotation, regulating the quantity of oil addressed to the actuator or to a reservoir. The lift of the valve is a function of the quantity of oil addressed to the actuator, ranging from full lift to complete valve closure. Each solenoid valve may also delay application of the actuator in advance, leading to late valve opening or early valve closing.</p>
<p>MultiAir is exclusive for Chrysler Group in North America and is based on a series of Fiat Powertrain patents related to hardware, combustion strategies and controls that allow for full control of the lift and timing of engine valves.</p>
<p>In the early 1970s, robotics in assembly plants was not common. The term "FIRE" came into existence when Fiat integrated the use of robotics in the production process of manufacturing plants. Although mechanized assembly is commonplace today, the brand name FIRE has remained with Fiat's powertrain lineup.</p>
<p>The 1.4-liter FIRE with Multiair is the world's first mass production engine to incorporate such technology to control the intake valves. Dedicated components have been developed to accommodate four "bricks" (one for each cylinder), which package relevant components. MultiAir technology can be adapted to different types of engines, including Diesels for enhanced NOx control, and is planned for Chrysler Powertrain's four-cylinder World Gas Engine and all-new Pentastar V-6</p>]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">2009_12_17_robotized_engine</guid><pubDate>December 17, 2009</pubDate><category>jeep_news jeep internal dodge_news chrysler_news dodge chrysler</category><source url="http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news">Chrysler Media Services LLC</source><dc:subject name="Jeep News" category="System Tag">jeep_news</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Jeep" category="System Tag">jeep</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Recent News From" category="System Tag">internal</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Dodge News" category="System Tag">dodge_news</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Chrysler News" category="System Tag">chrysler_news</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Dodge" category="System Tag">dodge</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Chrysler" category="System Tag">chrysler</dc:subject></item>
<item><title>Chrysler Group LLC to Invest $179 Million in Jobs for Michigan, Fuel Efficient Engines for North America</title><link>http://www.jeep.com/en/experience/news/articles/?guid=2009_12_17_michigan_jobs</link><description><![CDATA[
<ul>
<li>Company Is Delivering on the Promise of the Fiat-Chrysler Strategic Alliance, says Chrysler Group CEO Marchionne  </li>
<li>A Significant Step to Grow and Diversify State's Economy, says Michigan Governor Granholm  </li>
</ul>
<p>Auburn Hills, Mich. , Dec 17, 2009  -  Chrysler Group LLC will invest $179 million to launch production of an advanced technology, fuel-efficient engine for the North American market, which will be built at the company's Global Engine Manufacturing Alliance (GEMA) plant in Michigan.</p>
<p>The investment will create up to 573 new jobs industry-wide, including up to 155 new Chrysler Group jobs.</p>
<p>The GEMA plant, located in Dundee, Michigan, will produce the 1.4-liter, 16-valve Fully Integrated Robotized Engine (FIRE) for use in Chrysler Group's growing fleet of fuel-efficient vehicles. FIRE is a collaboration between Chrysler Group and Fiat powertrain groups and will include Fiat's innovative advanced technologies to reduce engine emissions and improve fuel economy.</p>
<p>"This is one more important step forward that demonstrates our intent to deliver on the promise of the Fiat-Chrysler strategic alliance and the substance of the road map we laid out in November," said Sergio Marchionne, Chrysler Group LLC Chief Executive Officer.</p>
<p>"This project further demonstrates that Michigan has the competitive business climate, infrastructure and talented workforce to compete in the global marketplace," said Governor Jennifer M. Granholm.</p>
<p>"We are pleased and excited with the I-4 FIRE engine loading at GEMA. The UAW is committed to working with the Company to continue doing everything we can to ensure this new engine launch is successful." said General Holiefield, Vice President and Director of the UAW, Chrysler Department.</p>
<p>Today's announcement follows a thorough site selection review by the company and actions by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and the Village of Dundee in support of the project.</p>
<p>Production of the 1.4-liter engine at GEMA will begin in the fourth quarter of 2010. The first application of the engine will be in the North American-built Fiat 500 that will go into production in 2011.</p>
<p>Chrysler Group has two plants at the GEMA complex, located at 5800 North Ann Arbor Road outside Dundee. In addition to the South plant which will produce the FIRE, the North Plant, opened in October 2005, produces the World Gas Engine, Chrysler Powertrain's naturally-aspirated, four-cylinder engine family.</p>
<p>
<a href="/download/pdf/fact_sheet.pdf" name="&lpos=content">To learn more about GEMA, click here</a>
</p>
<h2>About Chrysler Group LLC</h2>
<p>Chrysler Group LLC, formed in 2009 from a global strategic alliance with Fiat Group, produces Chrysler, Jeep&#174;, Ram, Dodge, Mopar&#174; and Global Electric Motorcars (GEM) brand vehicles and products. With the resources, technology and worldwide distribution network required to compete on a global scale, the alliance builds on Chrysler's culture of innovation - first established by Walter P. Chrysler in 1925 - and Fiat's complementary technology - from a company whose heritage dates back to 1899.</p>
<p>Headquartered in Auburn Hills, Mich., Chrysler Group LLC's product lineup features some of the world's most recognizable vehicles, including the Chrysler 300, Jeep Wrangler and Ram. Fiat will contribute world-class technology, platforms and powertrains for small- and medium-sized cars, allowing Chrysler Group to offer an expanded product line including environmentally friendly vehicles.</p>]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">2009_12_17_michigan_jobs</guid><pubDate>December 17, 2009</pubDate><category>jeep_news jeep internal chrysler_news dodge_news dodge chrysler</category><source url="http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news">Chrysler Media Services LLC</source><dc:subject name="Jeep News" category="System Tag">jeep_news</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Jeep" category="System Tag">jeep</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Recent News From" category="System Tag">internal</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Chrysler News" category="System Tag">chrysler_news</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Dodge News" category="System Tag">dodge_news</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Dodge" category="System Tag">dodge</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Chrysler" category="System Tag">chrysler</dc:subject></item>
<item><title>Dodge Targets Road Racing Enthusiasts With 2010 Viper SRT10 ACR-X</title><link>http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news/articles/?guid=2009_12_10_dodge_targets_road_racing_2010_viper</link><description><![CDATA[
<ul>
<li>Turn&#45;key&#44; spec&#45;series racer aimed at continuing Dodge Viper&#39;s storied racing history</li>
<li>Dodge and Street and Racing Technology &#40;SRT&#41; team combine best performance attributes of Viper ACR with Viper Competition Coupe</li>
<li>Latest special&#45;edition Viper ACR offers improved on&#45;track performance and safety</li>
<li>Dodge Viper Cup spec series will debut in July 2010</li>
</ul>
<p>Orlando&#44; Fla.&#44; Dec 10&#44; 2009  &#45;  Dodge today pulled the cover off the newest special&#45;edition model of the 2010 Viper SRT10 lineup. The Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR&#45;X is a turn&#45;key&#44; non&#45;street legal race car that is slated to make its on&#45;track debut in the summer of 2010.</p>
<p>&#34;The Dodge Viper ACR&#45;X takes the performance attributes of Viper to an even higher level for a wide range of drivers starting with the grassroots racer all the way up to the professional&#44;&#34; said Ralph Gilles&#44; President and CEO&#44; Dodge Brand. &#34;This project is a result of many years of performance engineering expertise from our SRT team&#44; combined with the passion and dedication of Viper Nation&#44; to keep the Viper racing tradition going strong on tracks around the country and the world.&#34;</p>
<p>Combining the best performance attributes of the record&#45;setting&#44; street&#45;legal Dodge Viper ACR &#40;American Club Racer&#41; and the safety equipment of championship&#45;winning Viper Competition Coupe&#44; the Viper ACR&#45;X is powered by the SRT&#45;developed 8.4&#45;liter V10&#44; equipped with factory headers and a low&#45;restriction exhaust system&#44; that produces 640 horsepower &#40;40 more than production model&#41;.</p>
<p>The suspension also is tuned and upgraded specifically for on&#45;track usage&#44; while the weight is lightened by a full 160 pounds &#40;versus the standard production Viper&#41; to take on even the most challenging road course. Additional aerodynamic upgrades improve downforce&#44; while enhancing stability and significantly improving grip in high&#45;speed cornering.</p>
<p>Similar to the Dodge Viper Competition Coupe&#44; the Viper ACR&#45;X contains factory&#45;installed safety equipment such as a factory&#45;designed roll cage&#44; fuel cell and race seat. Additional racing components are added to meet the significant durability and reliability requirements for on&#45;track competition.</p>
<p>In what will be the final year of production for the current generation Viper&#44; the ACR&#45;X is the third limited&#44; special&#45;edition model to be introduced by Dodge. &#34;&#34;We&#39;re going to make 2010 the most exciting year for Viper yet with specially developed cars for the street and the track&#44;&#34; added Gilles. &#34;The ACR&#45;X is targeted at road&#45;racing enthusiasts who want to successfully compete in our ultimate American sports car.&#34;</p>
<p>Last month&#44; the SRT team used a testing session at Laguna Seca raceway to shake down the Viper ACR&#45;X for the first time. Behind the wheel was professional driver Kuno Wittmer from the SCCA Pro Racing SPEED World Challenge Touring Car Championship series&#44; who was able to run consistent 1&#58;31.00 lap times around the 2.238&#45;mile&#44; 11&#45;turn course. Wittmer&#39;s lap times were more than 3 seconds faster than the street&#45;legal Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR that holds the production car track record at Laguna Seca raceway.</p>
<p>&#34;The Dodge Viper ACR&#45;X is incredible&#44;&#34; said Wittmer. &#34;After a short warm up&#44; I was running lap times as quick as exotic GT race cars. I was blown away by the power and acceleration&#44; and even more surprised at how the ACR&#45;X navigated the challenging Laguna Seca corners and how friendly it was to drive at the limit.</p>
<p>&#34;All aspects of the car work together perfectly to plant all that horsepower and torque without issue&#44;&#34; Wittmer added. &#34;This will be a great package for someone coming out of grassroots racing with a desire to step&#45;up to GT level competition. Dodge nailed it with this one!&#34;</p>
<p>The Viper SRT10 ACR&#45;X is designed to compete in the Viper Racing League&#44; Sports Car Club of America and National Auto Sport Association events.</p>
<p>Manufacturer&#39;s Suggested Retail Price &#40;MSRP&#41; for the Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR&#45;X will be approximately &#36;110&#44;000. Production is slated to begin in Spring 2010.</p>
<p>For more information on the Dodge Viper ACR&#45;X&#44; call Viper Race Headquarters at &#40;888&#41; 960&#45;3333 or visit www.viperheadquarters.com</p>
<p>
<strong>Dodge Viper Cup&#58;</strong>
</p>
<p>The Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR&#45;X will make its on&#45;track debut in July 2010 in a newly developed spec series called the Dodge Viper Cup&#44; which will be sanctioned by the existing Viper Racing League. Each vehicle in the new series must be the new Viper ACR&#45;X.</p>
<p>Two races per weekend for five weekends will make up the 10&#45;race 2010 Dodge Viper Cup schedule which includes July 9&#45;11 at Virginia International Raceway; August 14&#45;15 at Hallett Raceway; September 11&#45;12 at Pocono Raceway; October 1&#45;3 at Miller Motorsports Park and October 22&#45;24 at Daytona International Speedway.</p>
<p>A contingency program sponsored by Dodge Motorsports and Mopar will pay out more than &#36;200&#44;000 during 2010. Payouts for each race are in cash and Mopar vouchers come as credit toward purchase of Mopar parts and accessories.</p>
<p>
<strong>Per Race&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;Cash&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;Mopar Voucher&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;Total</strong>
<br/>1st&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#36;6&#44;500&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#36;1&#44;000&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#36;7&#44;500<br/>2nd&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#36;4&#44;500&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#36;500&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#36;5&#44;000<br/>3rd&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#36;2&#44;500&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#36;250&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#36;2&#44;750<br/>4th&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#36;1&#44;250&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#36;150&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#36;1&#44;400<br/>5th&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#36;500&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#36;100&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#38;nbsp;&#36;600</p>
<p>Additional cash awards will be made to the top&#45;3 finishers in the Dodge Viper Cup. The 2010 champion will win &#36;25&#44;000&#44; second&#45;place will receive &#36;10&#44;000 and third&#45;place will pay &#36;5&#44;000.</p>
<p>
<strong>Viper Racing Heritage&#58;</strong>
</p>
<p>The Dodge Viper has enjoyed a successful racing heritage that began in 1996 with the original Viper racing entry&#44; the GTS&#45;R&#44; which earned five international GT championships and the 1997&#45;1999 FIA GT championships. It also posted an amazing overall win at the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona in 1999 &#8212; the first for a production&#45;based American car.</p>
<p>The Dodge Viper Competition Coupe&#44; introduced in 2003&#44; delivered the next chapter with its coupe&#45;shaped carbon&#47;Kevlar body and a track&#45;ready chassis&#44; based on the Dodge Viper SRT10. The Viper Competition Coupe has continued the on&#45;track prowess by capturing the 2004 SCCA Speed World Challenge GT title&#44; championships in Formula D Drifting series in 2004 and 2006 and the British GT Championship in 2007 and 2008.</p>
<p>
<strong>viperheadquarters.com&#58;</strong>
</p>
<p>Dodge has created a new website designed to showcase the Dodge Viper SRT10 both on the street and on the track. Check out the new online home for all things Viper at www.viperheadquarters.com</p>
<p>
<strong>Viper Racing League&#58;</strong>
</p>
<p>The Viper Racing League is one race series within the group of three &#40;including Challenge Series and Driving School&#41; sanctioned by Viper Days. The series has 11&#45;weekend events scheduled for the 2010 season at some of the country&#39;s most prestigious race tracks. For more information including the 2010 race schedule&#44; visit www.viperdays.com</p>
<p>
<strong>About Dodge&#58;</strong>
</p>
<p>Dodge is a full line of cars&#44; SUVs and MPVs that are agile&#44; daring&#44; sensible and inventive. The product line includes the Dodge Caliber&#44; Dodge Avenger&#44; Dodge Challenger&#44; Dodge Charger&#44; Dodge Grand Caravan&#44; Dodge Journey&#44; Dodge Nitro and Dodge Viper SRT10.</p>
<p>Dodge introduced two new vehicles last year&#58; the all&#45;new 2009 Dodge Journey&#44; the brand&#39;s first crossover vehicle and the 2009 Dodge Challenger&#44; a modern&#45;day American muscle car. Dodge also celebrated the 25th anniversary of the minivan during the 2009 model year. With more than 65 minivan&#45;firsts introduced since 1983 and more than 12 million Dodge and Chrysler minivans sold&#44; Chrysler Group LLC has solidified its leadership in the segment. J.D. Power and Associates further acknowledged this leadership by naming the Dodge Grand Caravan the Most Dependable Van for 2009. The 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan continues to set the mark in the minivan segment with unsurpassed fuel economy of 17 city &#47; 25 highway mpg and minivan&#45;first innovations including the segment&#39;s only Stow &#39;n Go&#174; and Swivel &#39;n Go&#8482; seating and storage systems. The 2010 Dodge Avenger&#44; with ESC&#44; also earned the 2009 Top Safety Pick rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety &#40;IIHS&#41;.</p>
<p>Also in 2008&#44; the Dodge Journey entered key volume markets outside North America&#44; joining the Dodge Avenger&#44; Nitro and Caliber. Dodge Caliber was the highest sales volume vehicle for the company outside North America in 2008.</p>]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">2009_12_10_dodge_targets_road_racing_2010_viper</guid><pubDate>December 10, 2009</pubDate><category>dodge_news dodge internal viper srt</category><source url="http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news">Chrysler Media Services LLC</source><dc:subject name="Dodge News" category="System Tag">dodge_news</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Dodge" category="System Tag">dodge</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Recent News From" category="System Tag">internal</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Viper" category="Dodge Vehicles">viper</dc:subject><dc:subject name="SRT" category="Automotive">srt</dc:subject></item>
<item><title>All-new 2010 Ram Heavy Duty Pickup Named Motor Trend Truck of the Year&#174;</title><link>http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news/articles/?guid=2009_12_9_ram_2500_3500_truck_of_the_year</link><description><![CDATA[
<ul>
<li>All-new 2010 Ram 2500/3500 Heavy Duty pickups recognized by editors for setting a new benchmark in heavy-duty truck segment </li>
<li>All-new 2010 Ram Heavy Duty pickup beats the competition in a series of rigorous tests  </li>
</ul>
<p>Auburn Hills, Mich. , Dec 10, 2009 -</p>
<p>The editors of Motor Trend today named the all-new 2010 Ram 2500/3500 Heavy Duty pickups the magazine's "2010 Truck of the Year&#174;."</p>
<p>"To have our all-new 2010 Ram Heavy Duty named Truck of the Year&#174; by the editors of Motor Trend really defines how great this new Ram Heavy Duty pickup is," said Fred Diaz, President and Chief Executive</p>
<p>Officer-Ram Truck Brand, Chrysler Group LLC. "The Motor Trend Truck of the Year&#174; Award is like a standing ovation for the Chrysler Group designers, engineers and planners who developed this incredible Ram Heavy Duty Truck."</p>
<p>Motor Trend Truck of the Year&#174; contenders are evaluated using six criteria, which includes design advancement, engineering excellence, intended function, efficiency, safety and value. To be eligible, a vehicle must have been substantially changed from the previous model.</p>
<p>"The 2010 Ram Heavy Duty absolutely nailed the award in terms of our criteria, from the attractive exterior styling, to the plush and quiet cabins, to the tough and capable powertrains, especially the impressive Cummins diesel, which meets 50-state emissions standards without needing expensive after-treatment technology," said Angus MacKenzie, Editor-in-Chief, Motor Trend. "It delivers the capability heavy duty truck users demand, with style and refinement they perhaps did not expect."</p>
<h2>Innovative New Features Strengthen Ram Heavy Duty's Capability and Performance</h2>
<p>The 2010 Ram Heavy Duty brings increased capability and innovative new features to the heavy-duty segment with an uncompromising attitude that remains the standard for all full-size heavy-duty pickups.</p>
<p>For 2010, the all-new Ram Heavy Duty is available in five distinct trim models-ST, SLT, TRX, Power Wagon and Laramie. Each has a unique appearance and offers various equipment options. Ram Heavy Duty delivers the performance and amenities customers demand. The 2010 Ram Heavy Duty pickups feature a hydro-formed, fully boxed frame with advanced torsional rigidity and stiffness. A coil-spring suspension setup is used up front, while the multi-leaf spring design is maintained in the rear for heavy-duty capability. Front and rear shocks and springs are tuned for optimum ride quality and capability.</p>
<p>Improved suspension tuning and new C-pillar hydra mounts were added to the 2010 Ram Heavy Duty models to improve damping through the frame-bending mode frequency in order to better manage shake and after-shake response. The result is reduced shake, which means an improved ride for the customer.</p>
<p>The new 2010 Ram 2500 and 3500 pickups offer the only standard exhaust brake in the segment (diesel-equipped models). This feature reduces brake fade, prolongs brake life and provides confidence and safety when hauling heavy loads on downhill grades. Large front (360 mm) and rear (358 mm) brakes with integrated Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) increase brake life and braking stability.</p>
<p>An available integrated trailer brake control provides better driver control in towing situations. Trailer brake control information is conveniently displayed in the Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC), which is standard on all Ram heavy duty models equipped with a diesel engine and available on gas SLT, TRX and Laramie models.</p>
<p>In addition, new 2010 Ram transmissions include Electronic Range Select, which enables the driver to manually limit the highest available transmission gear, allowing manual upshifts and downshifts based on road speed and engine speed. A tow/haul mode switch enhances tow capability while towing. Tow/haul mode is available on both five-speed and six-speed automatic transmissions.</p>
<p>Customers in the heavy-duty segment have a range of needs, and most of them involve high levels of capability. The new 2010 Ram 2500 and 3500 are designed to deliver a total package:</p>
<ul>
<li>
<strong>Increased Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) on 2500 4x4 crew cab diesel models to 9,600 pounds from 9,000 pounds</strong>
</li>
<li>Increased Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR) on 3500 dually models with diesel, auto transmission and 4.10 rear axle to 24,500 pounds from 24,000 pounds. With the Max Tow Package, GCWR increases to 25,400 pounds (late availability)  </li>
<li>Increased GCWR on 3500 4x2 models to 24,000 pounds from 23,000 pounds  </li>
<li>Increased front Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) on several models:<br/>
<ul>
<li>To 5,500 pounds from 5,200 pounds on diesel 4x4 pickups  </li>
<li>To 5,000 pounds from 4,700 pounds on diesel 4x2 pickups  </li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p>Other towing features include improved trailer-tow mirrors with integrated turn signals, memory function and puddle lamps. The larger 7-in. x 11-in. trailer-tow mirrors offer improved visibility with larger convex glass surfaces. Mirrors flip up and out in a vertical configuration for improved visibility around wide trailers. Trailer-tow mirrors are now standard on 3500. As an added convenience, a Class IV receiver is now standard on all Ram 2500 and 3500 Heavy Duty pickups.</p>
<p>Ram Heavy Duty towing, payload and axle capacity have all been increased for 2010. Suspension upgrades and larger front-axle U-joints, combined with increased front GAWR, result in increased front-weight carrying capability-a must for larger snowplows.</p>
<p>The Ram Power Wagon also returns for the 2010 model year, equipped with electric-locking front and rear differentials, electronic disconnecting sway bar, Bilstein shocks, 32-inch BFGoodrich off-road tires, underbody skid plate protection, 4.56 axle ratio for hill climbing and a custom-built Warn&#174; 12,000 pound winch that is accessible through the front bumper. The 2010 Dodge Ram Power Wagon features new exterior graphics and a lower two-tone paint scheme.</p>
<h2>Ram Heavy Duty Powertrains Include 6.7-liter Cummins Turbo Diesel and 5.7-liter HEMI&#174; V-8</h2>
<p>Powertrain choices include the legendary 6.7-liter Cummins Turbo Diesel engine, which produces 350 horsepower (261 kW) at 3,000 rpm and 650 lb.-ft. of torque (881 N&#183;m) at only 1,500 rpm.</p>
<p>The most durable and reliable engine in its class, the 6.7-liter Cummins Turbo Diesel features standard oil-change intervals of 7,500 miles. It also has major-overhaul intervals of 350,000 miles, providing more than a 100,000-mile advantage over the competition.</p>
<p>The Cummins 6.7-liter Turbo Diesel engine uses a diesel particulate filter (DPF) to virtually eliminate particulate matter emissions and an adsorber catalyst to reduce oxides of nitrogen (NOx) by as much as 90 percent, in order to meet stringent 2010.5 diesel emissions requirements.</p>
<p>The 2010 Ram Heavy Duty comes standard with the 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 gasoline engine, delivering 383 horsepower (286 kW) at 5,600 rpm and 400 lb.-ft. of torque (542 N&#183;m) at 4,000 rpm. The 5.7-liter HEMI was redesigned for 2009, with several new and improved technologies including Variable-valve Timing (VVT), increased compression ratio, active intake manifold with long runners for low-end torque and short runners for high-rpm power, improved cylinder head port flow efficiency and reduced-restriction exhaust and induction systems.</p>
<h2>New Exterior Styling; Loads of Interior Comfort and Convenience</h2>
<p>The all-new 2010 Ram Heavy Duty pickup was born from the same truck family that brought out the award-winning Ram 1500-Strategic Vision's Quality Award Winner.</p>
<p>The 2010 Ram Heavy Duty includes all-new styling, offering a tougher more capable look with improved aerodynamics and fit and finish. To accommodate cooling requirements of the 6.7-liter Cummins Turbo Diesel engine, the new 2010 Ram Heavy Duty grille opening is larger than the light-duty grille. The larger grille mates to a taller hood that incorporates louvers on each side. Access to the front winch (on Power Wagon models) and tow hooks led to the unique front-bumper design.</p>
<p>The new dual-rear-wheel fenders (3500 dually only) are now integrated into the box stamping and offer a smooth aerodynamic appearance.</p>
<p>The new 2010 Ram 2500 and 3500 Mega Cab models offer best-in-class interior room in the segment, including the largest, longest cab (143.2 cubic feet 111.1 inches long); largest interior cargo volume (72.2 cubic feet); largest cargo volume behind rear seat (7.7 cubic feet); largest flat-floor load area (16.8 square feet); largest second-row leg room (44.2 inches); largest rear-door opening (34.5 inches wide, 35.5 inches high); largest rear-door open angle 85 degrees); and first-ever reclining rear seats (22- to 37-degree seat-back angle).</p>
<h2>Ram Heavy Duty Delivers More than 25 Safety and Security Features</h2>
<p>The all-new Ram Heavy Duty also offers 25 active and passive safety features, including Anti-lock Brake System (ABS), advanced multi-stage air bags, BeltAlert, Brake/Park interlock, child-protection rear door locks, Constant-force Retractors (CFR), crumple zones, electronic brake-force distribution, energy-absorbing steering column, Enhanced Accident Response System (EARS), height-adjustable seat belts, HomeLink universal home security system transceiver, interior head-impact protection, knee bolsters, Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren (LATCH) child seat anchor system, low-risk deployment air bag, Parksense&#174; rear park-assist system, power-adjustable pedals, remote keyless entry, seat-belt pretensioners, Sentry Key&#174; engine immobilizer, standard side-curtain air bags, three-point seat belts, Tire Pressure Monitoring (TPM) and Uconnect Phone.</p>
<h2>2010 Ram Heavy Duty Pricing</h2>
<p>The all-new 2010 Ram Heavy Duty is available with a starting U.S. Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $28,165 for regular cab models, $31,415 for crew cab models and $36,865 for Mega Cab models. All prices include $950 for destination. The all-new 2010 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty arrives in dealerships in late 2009 calendar year.</p>
<h2>About Motor Trend</h2>
<p>Motor Trend, part of Source Interlink Media, LLC was founded in 1949 and is internationally recognized as one of the leading brands in automotive publishing, Motor Trend comprises Motor Trend Magazine, the motortrend.com website, Motor Trend Radio, Truck Trend, Motor Trend International Auto Shows, Motor Trend en Espanol and Motor Trend Car, Sport/Utility and Truck of the Year&#174; Awards program.</p>
<h2>Ram Brand</h2>
<p>With a work-hard, play-hard attitude, Ram offers the boldest, most powerful and capable pickup truck lineup on the planet.</p>
<p>Introduced in 2008, the Ram 1500 is a game-changer in terms of its ability to "outsmart" and "out-tough" the competition with its bold exterior design, crafted and refined interior, engineering excellence, superb innovation and best-in-class features and amenities.</p>
<p>The Ram 1500 also ranks at the top of Strategic Vision 2009 Total Quality Index&#8482; (TQI) in the full-size truck segment. According to the survey, the Ram 1500 leads the way with the highest Total Quality score of any truck in the 15-year history of the study.</p>
<p>Customers specifically noted that the Ram has the best added storage capability along with the best truck interior ever rated by customers.</p>
<p>Ram will add to its award-winning truck lineup with the introduction of its all-new 2010 Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500 Heavy Duty Trucks. The new Heavy-Duty trucks provide customers with first-time innovations and features along with new standards of strength, utility and driveability, building on the Ram's leadership in the Heavy-Duty pickup segment.</p>
<p>Ram will further enhance its commercial vehicle presence with the introduction of a "new crew" of commercial-grade work trucks: the new 2011 Dodge Ram 3500, 4500 and 5500 Chassis Cabs. Led by an all-new crew cab, the new 2011 Dodge Ram Chassis Cabs are built on a proven frame and chassis and engineered for maximum uptime, optimum performance and enhanced commercial capability.</p>
<p>-###-</p>
<p>Additional information and news from Chrysler is available at http://www.media.chrysler.com.</p>]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">2009_12_9_ram_2500_3500_truck_of_the_year</guid><pubDate>December 9, 2009</pubDate><category>dodge_news dodge internal</category><source url="http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news">Chrysler Media Services LLC</source><dc:subject name="Dodge News" category="System Tag">dodge_news</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Dodge" category="System Tag">dodge</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Recent News From" category="System Tag">internal</dc:subject></item>
<item><title>Chrysler Group LLC Statement Regarding Dodge Challenger Named 'Most Satisfying' in Customer Survey</title><link>http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news/articles/?guid=2009_12_8_challenger_named_most_satisfying</link><description><![CDATA[
<p>Auburn Hills&#44; Mich.&#44; Dec 8&#44; 2009  &#45;  Ralph Gilles&#44; President and Chief Executive Officer&#44; Dodge Car Brand and Senior Vice President &#8212; Product Design&#44; Chrysler Group LLC&#44; submitted the following letter to the editor to CNNMoney.com in response to an article published Dec. 8&#44; 2009&#58;</p>
<p>&#34;We at Dodge are thrilled the Dodge Challenger owners love their ride so much that they would definitely buy another one. Dodge Challenger embodies the other often difficult to measure&#44; but very important dimension of an iconic automobile. The Challenger is all about the visceral joy of driving and that indescribable but very real relationship that an owner can have with his chosen freedom device. The inner beauty of the Challenger is that it is multidimensional&#44; successfully combining performance&#44; technology&#44; drop dead good looks and no compromise reliable everyday drivability.&#34;</p>]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">2009_12_8_challenger_named_most_satisfying</guid><pubDate>December 8, 2009</pubDate><category>dodge_news dodge internal challenger awards</category><source url="http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news">Chrysler Media Services LLC</source><dc:subject name="Dodge News" category="System Tag">dodge_news</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Dodge" category="System Tag">dodge</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Recent News From" category="System Tag">internal</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Challenger" category="Dodge Vehicles">challenger</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Awards" category="Automotive">awards</dc:subject></item>
<item><title>All-new 2010 Ram 2500 Power Wagon Named Four Wheeler "Pickup Truck of the Year"</title><link>http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news/articles/?guid=2009_12_8_ram_powerwagon_namedpickup_of_the_year</link><description><![CDATA[
<ul>
<li>All&#45;new 2010 Ram 2500 Power Wagon beats the competition in a series of in&#45;depth on&#45; and off&#45;road tests</li>
<li>All&#45;new Ram 2500&#47;3500 Heavy Duty lineup includes five distinct trim models&#8212;ST&#44; SLT&#44; TRX&#44; Power Wagon and Laramie</li>
<li>All&#45;new 2010 Ram 2500 Power Wagon is the most off&#45;road&#45;ready production pickup truck with electric&#45;locking front and rear differentials&#44; electronic disconnecting sway bar&#44; Bilstein shocks&#44; 32&#45;inch BFGoodrich off&#45;road tires&#44; underbody skid plate protection&#44; 4.56 axle ratio for hill climbing and a custom&#45;built Warn&#174; 12&#44;000 pound winch</li>
</ul>
<p>Auburn Hills&#44; Mich.&#44; Dec 8&#44; 2009  &#45;  The editors of Four Wheeler have named the all&#45;new 2010 Ram 2500 Power Wagon pickup the magazine&#39;s &#34;2010 Pickup Truck of the Year.&#34;</p>
<p>&#34;It&#39;s an honor to have Four Wheeler magazine recognize our all&#45;new 2010 Ram 2500 Power Wagon with this significant award&#44;&#34; said Fred Diaz&#44; President and Chief Executive Officer &#8212; Ram Truck Brand&#44; Chrysler Group LLC. &#34;This award speaks loudly about the Ram Power Wagon; it&#39;s the most capable factory&#45;equipped off&#45;road&#45;ready pickup truck on the road.&#34;</p>
<p>This year&#39;s competitors included four new pickup trucks&#44; the Ram 2500 Heavy Duty Power Wagon&#44; the Ram 2500 Heavy Duty with a Cummins&#8482; diesel&#44; the Ford SVT F&#45;150 Raptor and the Toyota Tundra. To qualify for the competition&#44; a vehicle must have been entirely new or have substantial mechanical revisions from a previous model year.</p>
<p>&#34;The new Power Wagon is quite nearly the best of all worlds&#44;&#34; said Douglas McColloch&#44; Editor &#8212; Four Wheeler. &#34;Its tall stance and body&#45;on&#45;frame architecture don&#39;t get in the way of delivering a pleasant and relatively quiet highway ride. Its work&#45;truck ethic is belied by its eight&#45;lug axles and 10&#44;000&#45;pound tow rating. And once off the pavement&#44; deep in the dirt&#44; the Power Wagon can simply go places&#44; and do things&#44; that no other full&#45;size truck on the planet can. Locking differentials&#44; a disconnecting front swaybar&#44; and a 12&#44;000&#45;pound winch delivered straight from the factory will do that for you. All in all&#44; the Power Wagon is a very worthy winner of our Pickup Truck of the Year competition.&#34;</p>
<p>
<strong>Innovative New Features Strengthen Ram Heavy Duty&#39;s Capability and Performance</strong> The 2010 Ram Heavy Duty brings increased capability and innovative new features to the heavy&#45;duty segment with an uncompromising attitude that remains the standard for all full&#45;size heavy&#45;duty pickups.</p>
<p>For 2010&#44; the all&#45;new Ram Heavy Duty is available in five distinct trim models &#8212; ST&#44; SLT&#44; TRX&#44; Power Wagon and Laramie. Each has a unique appearance and offers various equipment options.</p>
<p>Ram Heavy Duty delivers the performance and amenities customers demand. The 2010 Ram Heavy Duty pickups feature a hydro&#45;formed&#44; fully boxed frame with advanced torsional rigidity and stiffness. A coil&#45;spring suspension setup is used up front&#44; while the multi&#45;leaf spring design is maintained in the rear for heavy&#45;duty capability. Front and rear shocks and springs are tuned for optimum ride quality and capability.</p>
<p>Improved suspension tuning and new C&#45;pillar hydra mounts were added to the 2010 Ram Heavy Duty models to improve damping through the frame&#45;bending mode frequency in order to better manage shake and after&#45;shake response. The result is reduced shake&#44; which means an improved ride for the customer.</p>
<p>The new 2010 Ram 2500 and 3500 pickups offer the only standard exhaust brake in the segment &#40;diesel&#45;equipped models&#41;. This feature reduces brake fade&#44; prolongs brake life and provides confidence and safety when hauling heavy loads on downhill grades. Large front &#40;360 mm&#41; and rear &#40;358 mm&#41; brakes with integrated Anti&#45;lock Brake System &#40;ABS&#41; increase brake life and braking stability.</p>
<p>An available integrated trailer brake control provides better driver control in towing situations. Trailer brake control information is conveniently displayed in the Electronic Vehicle Information Center &#40;EVIC&#41;&#44; which is standard on all Ram heavy&#45;duty models equipped with a diesel engine and available on gas SLT&#44; TRX and Laramie models.</p>
<p>In addition&#44; new 2010 Ram transmissions include Electronic Range Select&#44; which enables the driver to manually limit the highest available transmission gear&#44; allowing manual upshifts and downshifts based on road speed and engine speed. A tow&#47;haul mode switch enhances tow capability while towing. Tow&#47;haul mode is available on both five&#45;speed and six&#45;speed automatic transmissions.</p>
<p>Customers in the heavy&#45;duty segment have a range of needs&#44; and most of them involve high levels of capability. The new 2010 Ram 2500 and 3500 are designed to deliver a total package&#58;</p>
<ul>
<li>Increased Gross Vehicle Weight Rating &#40;GVWR&#41; on 2500 4x4 crew cab diesel models to 9&#44;600 pounds from 9&#44;000 pounds</li>
<li>Increased Gross Combined Weight Rating &#40;GCWR&#41; on 3500 dually models with diesel&#44; auto transmission and 4.10 rear axle to 24&#44;500 pounds from 24&#44;000 pounds. With the Max Tow Package&#44; GCWR increases to 25&#44;400 pounds &#40;late availability&#41;</li>
<li>Increased GCWR on 3500 4x2 models to 24&#44;000 pounds from 23&#44;000 pounds</li>
<li>Increased front Gross Axle Weight Rating &#40;GAWR&#41; on several models&#58;<ul>
<li>To 5&#44;500 pounds from 5&#44;200 pounds on diesel 4x4 pickups</li>
<li>To 5&#44;000 pounds from 4&#44;700 pounds on diesel 4x2 pickups</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p>Other towing features include improved trailer&#45;tow mirrors with integrated turn signals&#44; memory function and puddle lamps. The larger 7&#45;in. x 11&#45;in. trailer&#45;tow mirrors offer improved visibility with larger convex glass surfaces. Mirrors flip up and out in a vertical configuration for improved visibility around wide trailers. Trailer&#45;tow mirrors are now standard on 3500. As an added convenience&#44; a Class IV receiver is now standard on all Ram 2500 and 3500 Heavy Duty pickups.</p>
<p>Ram Heavy Duty towing&#44; payload and axle capacity have all been increased for 2010. Suspension upgrades and larger front&#45;axle U&#45;joints&#44; combined with increased front GAWR&#44; result in increased front&#45;weight carrying capability &#8212; a must for larger snowplows.</p>
<p>The Ram Power Wagon also returns for the 2010 model year&#44; equipped with electric&#45;locking front and rear differentials&#44; electronic disconnecting sway bar&#44; Bilstein shocks&#44; 32&#45;inch BFGoodrich off&#45;road tires&#44; underbody skid plate protection&#44; 4.56 axle ratio for hill climbing and a custom&#45;built Warn&#174; 12&#44;000&#45;pound winch that is accessible through the front bumper. The 2010 Dodge Ram Power Wagon features new exterior graphics and a lower two&#45;tone paint scheme.</p>
<p>
<strong>Ram Heavy Duty Powertrains Include 6.7&#45;liter Cummins Turbo Diesel and 5.7&#45;liter HEMI&#174; V&#45;8</strong>
<br/>Powertrain choices include the legendary 6.7&#45;liter Cummins Turbo Diesel engine&#44; which produces 350 horsepower &#40;261 kW&#41; at 3&#44;000 rpm and 650 lb.&#45;ft. of torque &#40;881 N&#8901;m&#41; at only 1&#44;500 rpm.</p>
<p>The most durable and reliable engine in its class&#44; the 6.7&#45;liter Cummins Turbo Diesel features standard oil&#45;change intervals of 7&#44;500 miles. It also has major&#45;overhaul intervals of 350&#44;000 miles&#44; providing more than a 100&#44;000&#45;mile advantage over the competition.</p>
<p>The Cummins 6.7&#45;liter Turbo Diesel engine uses a diesel particulate filter &#40;DPF&#41; to virtually eliminate particulate matter emissions and an adsorber catalyst to reduce oxides of nitrogen &#40;NOx&#41; by as much as 90 percent&#44; in order to meet stringent 2010.5 diesel emissions requirements.</p>
<p>The 2010 Ram Heavy Duty comes standard with the 5.7&#45;liter HEMI V&#45;8 gasoline engine&#44; delivering 383 horsepower &#40;286 kW&#41; at 5&#44;600 rpm and 400 lb.&#45;ft. of torque &#40;542 N&#8901;m&#41; at 4&#44;000 rpm. The 5.7&#45;liter HEMI was redesigned for 2009&#44; with several new and improved technologies including Variable&#45;valve Timing &#40;VVT&#41;&#44; increased compression ratio&#44; active intake manifold with long runners for low&#45;end torque and short runners for high&#45;rpm power&#44; improved cylinder head port flow efficiency and reduced&#45;restriction exhaust and induction systems.</p>
<p>
<strong>New Exterior Styling; Loads of Interior Comfort and Convenience</strong>
<br/>The all&#45;new 2010 Ram Heavy Duty pickup was born from the same truck family that brought out the award&#45;winning Ram 1500 &#8212; Strategic Vision&#39;s Quality Award Winner.</p>
<p>The 2010 Ram Heavy Duty includes all&#45;new styling&#44; offering a tougher more capable look with improved aerodynamics and fit and finish. To accommodate cooling requirements of the 6.7&#45;liter Cummins Turbo Diesel engine&#44; the new 2010 Ram Heavy Duty grille opening is larger than the light&#45;duty grille. The larger grille mates to a taller hood that incorporates louvers on each side. Access to the front winch &#40;on Power Wagon models&#41; and tow hooks led to the unique front&#45;bumper design.</p>
<p>The new dual&#45;rear&#45;wheel fenders &#40;3500 dually only&#41; are now integrated into the box stamping and offer a smooth aerodynamic appearance.</p>
<p>The new 2010 Ram 2500 and 3500 Mega Cab models offer best&#45;in&#45;class interior room in the segment&#44; including the largest&#44; longest cab &#40;143.2 cubic feet 111.1 inches long&#41;; largest interior cargo volume &#40;72.2 cubic feet&#41;; largest cargo volume behind rear seat &#40;7.7 cubic feet&#41;; largest flat&#45;floor load area &#40;16.8 square feet&#41;; largest second&#45;row leg room &#40;44.2 inches&#41;; largest rear&#45;door opening &#40;34.5 inches wide&#44; 35.5 inches high&#41;; largest rear&#45;door open angle 85 degrees&#41;; and first&#45;ever reclining rear seats &#40;22&#45; to 37&#45;degree seat&#45;back angle&#41;.</p>
<p>
<strong>Ram Heavy Duty Delivers More than 25 Safety and Security Features</strong>
<br/>The all&#45;new Ram Heavy Duty also offers 25 active and passive safety features&#44; including Anti&#45;lock Brake System &#40;ABS&#41;&#44; advanced multi&#45;stage air bags&#44; BeltAlert&#44; Brake&#47;Park interlock&#44; child&#45;protection rear door locks&#44; Constant&#45;force Retractors &#40;CFR&#41;&#44; crumple zones&#44; electronic brake&#45;force distribution&#44; energy&#45;absorbing steering column&#44; Enhanced Accident Response System &#40;EARS&#41;&#44; height&#45;adjustable seat belts&#44; HomeLink universal home security system transceiver&#44; interior head&#45;impact protection&#44; knee bolsters&#44; Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren &#40;LATCH&#41; child seat anchor system&#44; low&#45;risk deployment air bag&#44; Parksense&#174; rear park&#45;assist system&#44; power&#45;adjustable pedals&#44; remote keyless entry&#44; seat&#45;belt pretensioners&#44; Sentry Key&#174; engine immobilizer&#44; standard side&#45;curtain air bags&#44; three&#45;point seat belts&#44; Tire Pressure Monitoring &#40;TPM&#41; and Uconnect Phone.</p>
<p>
<strong>2010 Ram Heavy Duty Pricing</strong>
<br/>The all&#45;new 2010 Ram Heavy Duty is available with a starting U.S. Manufacturer&#39;s Suggested Retail Price &#40;MSRP&#41; of &#36;28&#44;165 for regular cab models&#44; &#36;31&#44;415 for crew cab models and &#36;36&#44;865 for Mega Cab models. All prices include &#36;950 for destination. The all&#45;new 2010 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty arrives in dealerships in late 2009 calendar year.</p>
<p>
<strong>About Four Wheeler</strong>
<br/>Now in its 48th year&#44; Four Wheeler is published monthly by Source Interlink Media LLC and reaches over 236&#44;000 subscribers monthly with an approximate readership of three million off&#45;road enthusiasts.</p>
<p>
<strong>About Ram Brand</strong>
<br/>With a work&#45;hard&#44; play&#45;hard attitude&#44; Ram offers the boldest&#44; most powerful and capable pickup truck lineup on the planet.</p>
<p>Introduced in 2008&#44; the Ram 1500 is a game&#45;changer in terms of its ability to &#34;outsmart&#34; and &#34;out&#45;tough&#34; the competition with its bold exterior design&#44; crafted and refined interior&#44; engineering excellence&#44; superb innovation and best&#45;in&#45;class features and amenities.</p>
<p>The Ram 1500 also ranks at the top of Strategic Vision 2009 Total Quality Index&#8482; &#40;TQI&#41; in the full&#45;size truck segment. According to the survey&#44; the Ram 1500 leads the way with the highest Total Quality score of any truck in the 15&#45;year history of the study.</p>
<p>Customers specifically noted that the Ram has the best added storage capability along with the best truck interior ever rated by customers.</p>
<p>Ram will add to its award&#45;winning truck lineup with the introduction of its all&#45;new 2010 Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500 Heavy Duty Trucks. The new Heavy&#45;Duty trucks provide customers with first&#45;time innovations and features along with new standards of strength&#44; utility and driveability&#44; building on the Ram&#39;s leadership in the Heavy&#45;Duty pickup segment.</p>
<p>Ram will further enhance its commercial vehicle presence with the introduction of a &#34;new crew&#34; of commercial&#45;grade work trucks&#58; the new 2011 Dodge Ram 3500&#44; 4500 and 5500 Chassis Cabs. Led by an all&#45;new crew cab&#44; the new 2011 Dodge Ram Chassis Cabs are built on a proven frame and chassis and engineered for maximum uptime&#44; optimum performance and enhanced commercial capability.</p>]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">2009_12_8_ram_powerwagon_namedpickup_of_the_year</guid><pubDate>December 8, 2009</pubDate><category>dodge_news dodge internal awards ram</category><source url="http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news">Chrysler Media Services LLC</source><dc:subject name="Dodge News" category="System Tag">dodge_news</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Dodge" category="System Tag">dodge</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Recent News From" category="System Tag">internal</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Awards" category="Automotive">awards</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Ram" category="Dodge Vehicles">ram</dc:subject></item>
<item><title>Dodge Viper SRT10&#174; Lives On As The Ultimate American Sports Car</title><link>http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news/articles/?guid=2009_12_2_viper_ultimate_american_sports_car</link><description><![CDATA[
<ul>
<li>Last model year for current generation Dodge Viper</li>
<li>More exclusive than ever before with more than 7&#44;600 possible appearance combinations available for limited production run of 500 cars</li>
<li>Two new exterior colors&#44; including Toxic Orange Pearl Coat and Bright Silver Metallic Clear Coat</li>
<li>New wider&#44; dual racing stripe pattern</li>
<li>Revised fifth gear ratio</li>
<li>New wing endplate and revised wing profile on American Club Racer &#40;ACR&#41; model</li>
<li>Short&#45;throw shifter on ACR model</li>
<li>Various special&#44; limited&#45;edition models available across 2010 lineup</li>
</ul>
<p>Auburn Hills&#44; Mich.&#44; Dec 2&#44; 2009  &#45;</p>
<p>To celebrate the final production year of the current generation Dodge Viper SRT10&#44; Dodge plans to deliver a vehicle lineup like no other since the introduction of the iconic American sports car in 1992.</p>
<p>At the heart of the 2010 Dodge Viper SRT10 remains the venerable 8.4&#45;liter &#40;510 cu. in.&#41; V&#45;10 engine that produces 600 &#40;450 kW&#41; horsepower and 560 lb.&#45;ft. &#40;760 N&#8901;m&#41; of torque. Benchmark performance numbers&#44; including 0&#45;60 mph in less than 4 seconds&#44; quarter&#45;mile time in the mid 11&#45;second range and 0&#45;100&#45;0 mph in 11 seconds flat&#44; and a top speed of 202 mph&#44; continue to prove how the serious&#44; race&#45;inspired&#44; street&#45;legal two&#45;seater performs without apology.</p>
<p>Body style offerings remain unchanged with the availability of Roadster and Coupe models along with the ACR &#40;American Club Racer&#41; package. Approximately 500 vehicles will be built for the 2010 model year.</p>
<p>With the introduction of two new exterior colors&#8212;Toxic Orange Pearl Coat and Bright Silver Metallic Clear Coat&#8212;Dodge Viper SRT10 is now available in 12 different colors &#8212; the most regularly available choices in one model year. And with six stripe options in the new wider configuration&#44; five different interior color combinations&#44; four different wheel choices and three available interior bezels; the 2010 Viper SRT10 will be available in more than 7&#44;600 combinations&#8212;the most for any one model year&#8212;significantly adding to the exclusivity of each car like never before.</p>
<p>New across the Viper lineup is a shorter fifth gear ratio &#40;changing from 0.74 to 0.80&#41; for improved high&#45;speed acceleration and higher straightaway speeds. Acceleration from 0&#45;200 mph has improved by 14 seconds. This improvement is a direct result of the Chrysler Group LLC Street and Racing Technology team&#39;s experience at the 12.9&#45;mile N&#252;rburgring Nordschleife circuit in Germany where during the lap&#45;record run in 2008&#44; it was found that a revised gear ratio would have resulted in higher top gear acceleration and a quicker lap time.</p>
<p>The Viper SRT10 channels its power through a ZF Sachs twin&#45;disc clutch that reduces rotating inertia by 18 percent&#44; reduces clutch&#45;pedal effort and improves engagement feel. Transferring power to the rear wheels is a heavy&#45;duty six&#45;speed manual transmission.</p>
<p>Stopping power is another carefully developed part of the Viper SRT10 equation&#44; with 14&#45;inch brake rotors gripped by Brembo 44&#47;40 dual&#45;opposing piston calipers in the front and Brembo 42&#47;38 dual&#45;opposing calipers in the rear. This system results in world&#45;class braking performance of 60&#45;0 mph in less than 100 feet.</p>
<p>Interior color options for 2010 include&#58; standard black&#44; two&#45;tone black and red with red accent stitching&#44; two&#45;tone black and blue with blue accent stitching&#44; two&#45;tone black and medium slate grey with medium slate grey accent stitching and the two&#45;tone black and natural tan with premium tan Nappa leather seats&#44; tan center console&#44; lower instrument panel and door panels introduced for the 2009 model year. On the Roadster model&#44; the black and tan package includes a matching tan cloth convertible top.</p>
<p>
<strong>Viper SRT10 ACR</strong>
<br/>The Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR receives a new short&#45;throw shifter in 2010 for enhanced driver experience and better performance. The rear wing profile and end plates are redesigned to further optimize the vehicle aerodynamics and improve rear yaw downforce. These changes combined with the new fifth gear ratio result in an increased top speed of 4 mph &#40;to 184 mph for the ACR model&#41;.</p>
<p>The enhanced four&#45;wheel independent suspension features high&#45;performance aluminum control arms and knuckles&#44; KW suspension with two&#45;way adjustable competition coil&#45;over shock absorbers with remote reservoirs.</p>
<p>The aerodynamic package features a carbon fiber &#34;fanged&#34; splitter in front and adjustable carbon&#45;fiber wing with seven&#45;position stanchions that allow up to an amazing 1&#44;000 lbs. of downforce at 150 mph. Lightweight wheels&#44; two&#45;piece slotted StopTech brake rotors and Michelin PS Cup tires round out the Dodge Viper ACR package.</p>
<p>
<strong>New Special&#44; Limited&#45;edition Models</strong>
<br/>Numerous special&#44; limited&#45;edition models are planned for the 2010 model year&#44; including the Dodge Viper ACR 1&#58;33 Edition&#44; which will pay tribute to the new production car lap record set on Nov. 24 at Laguna Seca raceway. The unique two&#45;tone Black Clear Coat&#47;Red Clear Coat exterior color scheme on this model is the opposite form of the original Viper ACR. Interior highlights include piano black console bezels with red gauge highlights complemented with red accent stitching in the seats. Only 33 cars will be produced as 1&#58;33 Edition Viper ACR models.</p>
<p>The 2010 Vooodoo&#45;edition Viper ACR will feature an all Black Clear Coat exterior with a Graphite Driver&#39;s Stripe outlined in red. Only 10 cars will be produced with the unique striping on both the exterior&#44; as well as on the steering wheel.</p>
<p>Additional special edition models will be announced closer to their individual introductions. Pricing on the 2010 Dodge Viper lineup also will be announced at a later date.</p>]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">2009_12_2_viper_ultimate_american_sports_car</guid><pubDate>December 2, 2009</pubDate><category>dodge_news dodge internal viper awards</category><source url="http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news">Chrysler Media Services LLC</source><dc:subject name="Dodge News" category="System Tag">dodge_news</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Dodge" category="System Tag">dodge</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Recent News From" category="System Tag">internal</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Viper" category="Dodge Vehicles">viper</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Awards" category="Automotive">awards</dc:subject></item>
<item><title>Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR Recaptures Lap Record at Laguna Seca</title><link>http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news/articles/?guid=2009_11_24_viper_acr_recaptures_lap_record_laguna_seca</link><description><![CDATA[
<p>Street&#45;legal&#44; Production Supercar Sets New Mark</p>
<p>Monterey&#44; Calif.&#44; Nov 24&#44; 2009  &#45;  The Street and Racing Technology &#40;SRT&#41; team from Chrysler Group LLC arrived at Laguna Seca raceway today on a mission &#8212; to recapture the production car lap record at the world&#45;renowned road course in Monterey&#44; Calif.</p>
<p>Mission accomplished.</p>
<p>Chris Winkler&#44; an SRT vehicle dynamics engineer piloted a black and red 2010 Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR &#40;American Club Racer&#41; to a lap record of 1&#58;33.915 as recorded by Motech in&#45;vehicle data recorder &#40;1&#58;33.944 &#45; as unofficially recorded by trackside clock&#41; around the 2.238&#45;mile&#44; 11&#45;turn course&#44; shattering the previous lap record by more than 1.1 seconds.</p>
<p>&#34;It was definitely exciting but a somewhat uneventful lap overall from behind the steering wheel&#44;&#34; said Winkler&#44; who is still learning the intricate details of Laguna Seca raceway&#44; having spent only one other session on the course. &#34;The Dodge Viper ACR has amazing power and handles like a dream&#44; so following my first practice here last month&#44; I came away pretty confident that we&#39;d be able to set a new record.&#34;</p>
<p>In 2008&#44; professional road racer Randy Pobst&#44; drove a 2008 Dodge Viper ACR to a one&#45;lap&#44; production car record of 1&#58;35.117 at Laguna Seca raceway while working with Motor Trend. That record stood until August 6&#44; 2009 when the most recent record of 1&#58;35.075 was established by a one&#45;off exotic prototype.</p>
<p>Ralph Gilles&#44; President and CEO&#44; Dodge Brand and Senior Vice President&#44; Product Design Office&#44; Chrysler Group LLC&#44; was impressed with the Viper&#39;s performance. &#34;I&#39;ve been closely tied to this car my entire career and even after owning one myself for some time&#44; I&#39;m still amazed with what the Dodge Viper can do on and off the race track&#44;&#34; Gilles said. &#34;After our record&#45;setting lap at the N&#252;rburgring circuit&#44; we&#39;re excited to set a second performance benchmark record at another world&#45;famous road course.&#34;</p>
<p>The Dodge Viper is going into the final year of production for the current&#45;generation model. Approximately 500 Vipers will be produced in 2010.</p>
<p>&#34;We&#39;re going to keep Dodge&#39;s performance icon alive and well by not only producing some of the most special Vipers ever built&#44; but we&#39;re also investigating what the next&#45;generation Viper is going to be&#44;&#34; added Gilles. &#34;When we have partners across the ocean who are known as the best sports carmakers in the world&#44; the future opportunities are huge.&#34;</p>
<p>
<strong>2010 Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR</strong>
<br/>The Dodge Viper ACR remains the ultimate purpose&#45;built&#44; street&#45;legal track car since its introduction in 2008.New for the 2010 model year is a shorter fifth gear ratio &#40;changing from 0.74 to 0.80&#41; for improved high&#45;speed acceleration and higher straightaway speeds. This improvement is a direct result of SRT&#39;s experience at the 12.9&#45;mile N&#252;rburgring Nordschleife circuit in Germany where during the lap&#45;record run in 2008&#44; it was found that a revised gear ratio would have resulted in a higher speed capability and potentially a shorter elapsed time.</p>
<p>The Dodge Viper ACR also receives a new short&#45;throw shifter in 2010 for enhanced driver experience and better performance. The rear wing profile and end plates are redesigned to further optimize the vehicle aerodynamics and improve rear yaw downforce. These changes result in an increase in top speed of 4 mph &#40;to 184 mph&#41;.</p>
<p>Powered by the venerable 8.4&#45;liter&#44; V&#45;10 engine with 600 horsepower and 560 lb.&#45;ft. of torque&#44; the Dodge Viper ACR continues to offer extreme performance&#44; including 0&#45;60 mph acceleration in less than 4 seconds&#44; quarter&#45;mile time in the mid 11&#45;second range and 0&#45;100&#45;0 mph in 11 seconds flat.</p>
<p>The Dodge Viper ACR with optional Hard Core Package is more than 80 lbs. lighter than the production SRT10 and offers race&#45;ready hardware and competition tuning for optimal on&#45;track performance.</p>
<p>The four&#45;wheel independent suspension features high&#45;performance aluminum control arms and knuckles&#44; KW suspension with two&#45;way adjustable competition coil&#45;over shock absorbers with remote reservoirs.</p>
<p>The aerodynamic package features a carbon fiber &#34;fanged&#34; splitter in front and adjustable carbon&#45;fiber wing with seven&#45;position stanchions that allow up to an amazing 1&#44;000 lbs. of downforce at 150 mph. Lightweight wheels&#44; two&#45;piece slotted StopTech brake rotors and Michelin PS Cup tires round out the Dodge Viper ACR package.</p>
<p>The 2010 Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR will make its worldwide auto show debut on Dec. 2&#44; 2009 at the Los Angeles Auto Show.</p>
<p>
<strong>About Dodge</strong>
<br/>Dodge is a full line of cars&#44; SUVs and MPVs that are agile&#44; daring&#44; sensible and inventive. The product line includes the Dodge Caliber&#44; Dodge Avenger&#44; Dodge Challenger&#44; Dodge Charger&#44; Dodge Grand Caravan&#44; Dodge Journey&#44; Dodge Nitro and Dodge Viper SRT10.</p>
<p>Dodge introduced two new vehicles last year&#58; the all&#45;new 2009 Dodge Journey&#44; the brand&#39;s first crossover vehicle and the 2009 Dodge Challenger&#44; a modern&#45;day American muscle car. Dodge also celebrated the 25th anniversary of the minivan during the 2009 model year. With more than 65 minivan&#45;firsts introduced since 1983 and more than 12 million Dodge and Chrysler minivans sold&#44; Chrysler Group LLC has solidified its leadership in the segment. J.D. Power and Associates further acknowledged this leadership by naming the Dodge Grand Caravan the Most Dependable Van for 2009. The 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan continues to set the mark in the minivan segment with unsurpassed fuel economy of 17 city &#47; 25 highway mpg and minivan&#45;first innovations including the segment&#39;s only Stow &#39;n Go&#174; and Swivel &#39;n Go&#8482; seating and storage systems. The 2010 Dodge Avenger&#44; with ESC&#44; also earned the 2009 Top Safety Pick rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety &#40;IIHS&#41;.</p>
<p>Also in 2008&#44; the Dodge Journey entered key volume markets outside North America&#44; joining the Dodge Avenger&#44; Nitro and Caliber. Dodge Caliber was the highest sales volume vehicle for the company outside North America in 2008.</p>]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">2009_11_24_viper_acr_recaptures_lap_record_laguna_seca</guid><pubDate>November 24, 2009</pubDate><category>dodge_news dodge internal awards</category><source url="http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news">Chrysler Media Services LLC</source><dc:subject name="Dodge News" category="System Tag">dodge_news</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Dodge" category="System Tag">dodge</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Recent News From" category="System Tag">internal</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Awards" category="Automotive">awards</dc:subject></item>
<item><title>Chrysler Group LLC Earns Four 2010 "Top Safety Picks" From the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety</title><link>http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news/articles/?guid=2009_11_18_chrysler_group_llc_4_2010_top_safety_picks_iihs</link><description><![CDATA[
<ul>
<li>2010 Jeep&#174; Patriot&#44; 2010 Chrysler Sebring&#44; 2010 Dodge Avenger and 2010 Dodge Journey named Insurance Institute for Highway Safety &#40;IIHS&#41; Top Safety Picks</li>
<li>Chrysler Sebring&#44; Dodge Avenger and Dodge Journey earn IIHS Top Safety Pick honors two years in a row for both the 2009 and 2010 model years</li>
<li>Chrysler Group demonstrates continued leadership in occupant protection and overall vehicle engineering capability with almost 15 percent of the total IIHS 2010 Top Safety Picks</li>
</ul>
<p>Auburn Hills&#44; Mich.&#44; Nov 18&#44; 2009  &#45;</p>
<p>Four Chrysler Group LLC vehicles have earned 2010 Top Safety Pick Status. Chrysler Group announced today that the 2010 Dodge Journey&#44; the 2010 Chrysler Sebring when equipped with available Electronic Stability Control &#40;ESC&#41;&#44; the 2010 Dodge Avenger when equipped with available ESC and the 2010 Jeep&#174; Patriot with available seat mounted air bag&#44; are 2010 Top Safety Picks according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety &#40;IIHS&#41;.</p>
<p>The Chrysler Sebring&#44; Dodge Avenger and Dodge Journey have been awarded IIHS Top Safety Picks for both the 2009 and 2010 model years. The 2010 Jeep Patriot joins the trio in the highest possible rating from the nonprofit research organization.</p>
<p>For the 2010 model year&#44; Chrysler Group products comprise almost 15 percent of the total vehicles awarded Top Safety Pick status by the IIHS to automakers. The award recognizes automobiles with ESC that perform well in the Institute&#39;s front&#45;impact&#44; side&#45;impact&#44; rear&#45;impact and new for 2010&#44; roof&#45;strength evaluations.</p>
<p>&#34;With the addition of the Jeep&#174; Patriot&#44; Chrysler Group has received four Top Safety Picks in the 2010 model year&#8212;a great accomplishment for our company&#44;&#34; said Scott Kunselman&#44; Senior Vice President&#8212;Engineering&#44; Chrysler Group LLC. &#34;IIHS&#39; recognition of our products underscores Chrysler Group&#39;s engineering capability and leadership in occupant protection.&#34;</p>
<p>The 2010 Jeep&#174; Patriot&#44; 2010 Chrysler Sebring&#44; 2010 Dodge Avenger and 2010 Dodge Journey encompass a two&#45;fold approach to safety&#8212;passive features combined with accident&#45;avoidance features. Available safety and security features on all four vehicles include ESC with traction control&#44; Brake Assist and Anti&#45;lock Braking System &#40;ABS&#41;&#44; driver and front&#45;passenger active head restraints&#44; front seat&#45;mounted side airbags and advanced multi&#45;stage front airbags.</p>
<p>&#34;Chrysler showed the most improvement of any automaker for 2010&#44;&#34; said IIHS President Adrian Lund. &#34;These Chrysler&#44; Jeep&#174; and Dodge models are part of an elite group that afford the best overall crash protection and have electronic stability control&#44; which can help keep drivers out of crashes altogether.&#34;</p>
<p>Chrysler Group&#39;s four Top Safety Picks all feature the company&#39;s new active head restraint system for front&#45;seat occupants. This new system augments the head restraints ability to minimize neck injuries caused by rear&#45;impact accidents. In the event of a rear impact&#44; the head restraints deploy to remove the space between the occupants head and the restraint to help minimize whiplash type injuries.</p>
<p>About Chrysler Group LLCChrysler Group LLC&#44; formed in 2009 from a global strategic alliance with Fiat Group&#44; produces Chrysler&#44; Jeep&#174;&#44; Dodge&#44; Mopar&#174; and Global Electric Motorcars &#40;GEM&#41; brand vehicles and products. With the resources&#44; technology and worldwide distribution network required to compete effectively on a global scale&#44; the alliance builds on Chrysler&#39;s culture of innovation &#45; first established by Walter P. Chrysler in 1925 &#45; and Fiat&#39;s complementary technology. Headquartered in Auburn Hills&#44; Mich.&#44; Chrysler Group LLC&#39;s product lineup features some of the world&#39;s most recognizable vehicles&#44; including the Chrysler Town &#38; Country&#44; Jeep Wrangler and Dodge Ram. Fiat will contribute world&#45;class technology&#44; platforms and powertrains for small&#45; and medium&#45;sized cars&#44; allowing Chrysler Group LLC to offer an expanded product line including environmentally friendly vehicles.</p>]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">2009_11_18_chrysler_group_llc_4_2010_top_safety_picks_iihs</guid><pubDate>November 18, 2009</pubDate><category>dodge_news dodge internal chrysler chrysler_llc chrysler_news jeep jeep_news safety_security awards sebring journey avenger patriot</category><source url="http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news">Chrysler Media Services LLC</source><dc:subject name="Dodge News" category="System Tag">dodge_news</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Dodge" category="System Tag">dodge</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Recent News From" category="System Tag">internal</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Chrysler" category="System Tag">chrysler</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Chrysler LLC" category="Automotive">chrysler_llc</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Chrysler News" category="System Tag">chrysler_news</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Jeep" category="System Tag">jeep</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Jeep News" category="System Tag">jeep_news</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Safety Security" category="Automotive">safety_security</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Awards" category="Automotive">awards</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Sebring" category="Chrysler Vehicles">sebring</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Journey" category="Dodge Vehicles">journey</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Avenger" category="Dodge Vehicles">avenger</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Patriot" category="Jeep Vehicles">patriot</dc:subject></item>
<item><title>Chrysler Group LLC is First Automaker in the United States to Offer Live, Mobile TV with up to 20 Channels</title><link>http://www.chrysler.com/en/experience/news/articles/?guid=2009_10_29_chrysler_group_llc_offer_live_mobile_tv</link><description><![CDATA[
<ul>
<li>Watch live sports&#44; breaking news&#44; kids&#39; programs and primetime network shows in the back seat</li>
<li>Live mobile TV available on Chrysler&#44; Jeep&#174;&#44; Dodge Car and Ram Truck vehicles as a Mopar&#174; option</li>
<li>Live TV viewing of CBS Mobile&#44; CNBC&#44; Comedy Central&#44; FOX News&#44; MSNBC&#44; MTV&#44; NBC 2Go&#44; Nickelodeon and more</li>
<li>FLO TV&#8482; Auto Entertainment will be available in late December for &#36;629 plus installation&#44; includes one&#45;year subscription</li>
<li>Mobile TV option includes 3&#45;year&#47;36&#44;000&#45;mile warranty for new vehicles and 12&#45;month&#47;12&#44;000&#45;mile warranty on used vehicles</li>
</ul>
<p>Auburn Hills&#44; Mich.&#44; Oct 29&#44; 2009  &#45;</p>
<p>Mopar&#174; is channeling live&#44; mobile TV into Chrysler&#44; Jeep&#174;&#44; Dodge Car and Ram Truck vehicles.</p>
<p>Starting in late December&#44; Chrysler&#44; Jeep&#174;&#44; Dodge Car and Ram Truck customers may watch many of their favorite TV programs with a dealer&#45;installed mobile TV option from Mopar&#174;.</p>
<p>Chrysler Group LLC is the first automaker in the United States to offer live mobile TV to consumers with the capacity for as many as 20 channels through FLO TV&#8482; Auto Entertainment. The system offers something for everyone&#58; college and professional sports&#44; breaking news&#44; children&#39;s shows&#44; primetime sitcoms&#44; reality TV and daytime dramas.</p>
<p>Mopar will showcase FLO TV&#8482; Auto Entertainment at the Specialty Equipment Market Association &#40;SEMA&#41; Show in Las Vegas next week.</p>
<p>&#34;We want to offer our customers the ultimate in entertainment&#44;&#34; said Pietro Gorlier&#44; President &#38; Chief Executive Officer&#44; Mopar Service&#44; Parts &#38; Customer Care. &#34;With FLO TV Auto Entertainment&#44; we are the first automaker to offer mobile TV with the capacity for as many as 20 channels.&#34;</p>
<p>Until now&#44; the challenge for mobile TV has been to deliver high&#45;quality&#44; uninterrupted coverage in urban environments and at highway speeds. Existing mobile TV systems in the United States either offer limited channels or require large satellite dishes on vehicle roofs &#8212; and a large price tag to match.</p>
<p>Mopar&#39;s suggested retail price is &#36;629&#44; plus installation. A one&#45;year pre&#45;paid FLO TV service subscription is included with installation.</p>
<p>The entertainment package will be available as a dealer&#45;installed option on the following 2008&#45;2010 model year vehicles with factory DVD entertainment systems&#58; Chrysler Town &#38; Country&#44; Jeep Grand Cherokee&#44; Jeep Commander&#44; Dodge Grand Caravan&#44; Dodge Journey&#44; Dodge Nitro&#44; Ram 1500 and Ram 2500&#47;3500.</p>
<p>The service also can be added to select 2008&#45;2010 model&#45;year vehicles when new Mopar headrest or seat&#45;top DVD entertainment systems are purchased.</p>
<p>
<strong>How it Works</strong>
</p>
<p>Television signals are delivered through a dedicated multicast network built by San Diego&#45;based FLO TV Inc.&#44; a live mobile TV service provider&#44; and a wholly owned subsidiary of Qualcomm Inc. FLO TV offers live and time&#45;shifted programming from top entertainment brands&#44; including CBS Mobile&#44; CNBC&#44; Comedy Central&#44; FOX News&#44; MSNBC&#44; MTV&#44; NBC 2Go and Nickelodeon.</p>
<p>Up to 20 channels will be available in late December when the feature is available for dealer installation. By the end of 2009&#44; the FLO TV service should be available in more than 100 major markets and many interstate driving corridors. The FLO TV service is not available in some rural areas.</p>
<p>Audiovox Corp.&#44; of Hauppauge&#44; NY&#44; supplies FLO TV&#8482; Auto Entertainment hardware that integrates with Chrysler&#44; Jeep&#44; Dodge Car and Ram Truck vehicles&#39; existing entertainment systems and new Mopar 7&#45;inch DVD screen systems. A small antenna&#44; similar in size to a laptop mouse&#44; is mounted on a vehicle&#39;s roof to deliver the digital TV signal. Inside the vehicle&#44; the receiver and wiring are installed under the interior trim of the vehicle and are not visible to occupants.</p>
<p>User&#45;friendly wired and wireless remote controls allow viewers to easily surf channels&#44; similar to TV systems at home.</p>
<p>Mopar&#39;s FLO TV&#8482; Auto Entertainment option includes a 3&#45;year&#47;36&#44;000&#45;mile warranty on new vehicles or a 12&#45;month&#47;12&#44;000&#45;mile warranty on used vehicles for hardware and installation.</p>
<p>
<strong>About Chrysler Group LLC</strong>
</p>
<p>Chrysler Group LLC&#44; formed in 2009 from a global strategic alliance with Fiat Group&#44; produces Chrysler&#44; Jeep&#44; Dodge Car&#44; Ram Truck and Mopar brand vehicles and products. With the resources&#44; technology and worldwide distribution network required to compete effectively on a global scale&#44; the alliance builds on Chrysler&#39;s culture of innovation &#8212; first established by Walter P. Chrysler in 1925 &#8212; and Fiat&#39;s complementary technology. Headquartered in Auburn Hills&#44; Mich.&#44; Chrysler Group LLC&#39;s product lineup features some of the world&#39;s most recognizable vehicles&#44; including the Chrysler Town &#38; Country&#44; Jeep Wrangler and Ram 1500. Fiat will contribute world&#45;class technology&#44; platforms and powertrains for small&#45; and medium&#45;sized cars&#44; allowing Chrysler Group LLC to offer an expanded product line including environmentally friendly vehicles.</p>
<p>
<strong>About Mopar</strong>
</p>
<p>Mopar distributes approximately 280&#44;000 parts and accessories in more than 90 countries and is the source for all original equipment parts for Chrysler&#44; Jeep&#44; Dodge Car and Ram Truck vehicles. Mopar parts are unique in that they are engineered by the same teams that create factory&#45;authorized vehicle specifications for Chrysler&#44; Jeep and Dodge Car and Ram Truck vehicles &#8212; a direct connection that no other aftermarket parts company can provide.</p>
<p>
<strong>More than 70 Years of Mopar</strong>
</p>
<p>When Chrysler bought Dodge in 1928&#44; the need for a dedicated parts manufacturer&#44; supplier and distribution system to support the growing enterprise led to the formation of the Chrysler Motor Parts Corporation &#40;CMPC&#41; in 1929.</p>
<p>Mopar &#40;a simple contraction of the words MOtor and PARts&#41; was trademarked for a line of antifreeze products in 1937. It also was widely used as a moniker for the CMPC. The Mopar brand made its mark in the 1960&#39;s &#8212; the muscle car era. The Chrysler Corporation built race&#45;ready Dodge and Plymouth &#34;package cars&#34; equipped with special high&#45;performance parts. Mopar carried a line of &#34;special parts&#34; for super stock drag racers and developed its racing parts division called Mopar Performance Parts to enhance speed and handling for both road and racing use.</p>]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">2009_10_29_chrysler_group_llc_offer_live_mobile_tv</guid><pubDate>October 29, 2009</pubDate><category>chrysler_news chrysler internal dodge dodge_news chrysler_llc jeep jeep_news technology featured family</category><source url="http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news">Chrysler Media Services LLC</source><dc:subject name="Chrysler News" category="System Tag">chrysler_news</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Chrysler" category="System Tag">chrysler</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Recent News From" category="System Tag">internal</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Dodge" category="System Tag">dodge</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Dodge News" category="System Tag">dodge_news</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Chrysler LLC" category="Automotive">chrysler_llc</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Jeep" category="System Tag">jeep</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Jeep News" category="System Tag">jeep_news</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Technology" category="Automotive">technology</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Featured" category="System Tag">featured</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Family" category="Culture &#38; Events">family</dc:subject></item>
<item><title>Dodge Ram Introduces "New Crew" of Ram Heavy-Duty Pickups, New 2010 Dodge 2500 and 3500 - Ultimate Heavy-Duty Pickup Trucks</title><link>http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news/articles/?guid=2009_10_23_Ram_New_Crew</link><description><![CDATA[
<ul>
<li>The New Crew&#58; the 2010 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty is available for the first time in a crew-size cab model - providing Dodge Ram with a formidable entry in the highest volume part of the heavy-duty pickup segment (approximately 50 percent)</li>
<li>Choice of legendary diesel- and gasoline-fueled powerplants<ul>
<li>Available 6.7-liter Cummins&#38;reg; Turbo Diesel produces 350 horsepower (261 kW) at 3,000 rpm and 650 lb-ft. of torque (881 N&#183;m) at only 1,500 rpm. The 6.7-liter meets the most stringent of 50-state emission requirements and includes a segment-exclusive standard exhaust brake</li>
<li>Standard 5.7-liter HEMI&#38;reg; V-8 delivers 383 horsepower (286 kW) at 5,600 rpm and 400 lb.-ft. of torque (542 N&#183;m) at 4,000 rpm and features variable-valve timing for greater efficiency and performance</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Ride greatly improved over previous generation with re-tuned suspension components</li>
<li>New C-pillar with fluid-filled hydro mounts improves driving dynamics</li>
<li>Handling of fully loaded vehicle greatly improved over previous generation with new suspension tuning</li>
<li>Ram Heavy Duty 3500 with dual rear wheels, diesel engine, automatic transmission and 4.10 rear axle has an increased Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR) of 24,500 pounds from 24,000 pounds</li>
<li>Max Tow Package GCWR increases to 25,400 pounds (late availability)</li>
<li>Ram Heavy Duty 3500 offers superior towing capability at 17,600 pounds and a maximum payload of 5,150 pounds</li>
<li>Ram Heavy Duty 2500 Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) increases to 9,600 pounds from 9,000 pounds, a 600 lb. increase on crew cab and Mega Cab 4x4 models equipped with the Cummins Turbo Diesel engine</li>
<li>Increased front Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) of 5,500 pounds on 4x4 models equipped with the 6.7-liter Cummins Turbo Diesel engine allows for more front-weight carrying capability, including greater snowplow weights</li>
<li>Class IV receiver standard on all Ram Heavy Duty models</li>
<li>Premium front seats with heat and ventilation&#59; heated rear seats&#59; heated steering wheel&#59; automatic temperature control&#59; two-tone upholstery&#59; memory seats, radio and mirrors&#59; navigation&#59; adjustable pedals and numerous infotainment options, including SIRIUS Backseat TV&#8482; with three channels of programming, Uconnect Multimedia with a 30-gigabyte hard drive and an available first-in-segment 10-speaker surround-sound system</li>
<li>Numerous storage options, including in-floor storage</li>
<li>Offered in three cab styles (regular cab, crew-size cab and Mega Cab) and two cargo-box sizes (6 feet 4 inches and 8 feet), single-and dual-rear-wheel configurations</li>
<li>All-new integrated trailer brake controller, offered with trailer tow package, improves trailer braking and stability</li>
<li>Available in five distinct trim levels - ST, SLT, TRX, Laramie and Power Wagon</li>
<li>Exterior styling differentiates light-duty and heavy-duty models with unique grille, hood and bumpers </li>
<li>Dual-rear-wheel fenders (3500 dually only) are new for 2010 and are integrated into the box stamping providing a sleek aerodynamic appearance</li>
<li>More than 20 safety and security features available</li>
<li>B20 package available to fleet customers only  </li>
</ul>
<p>Auburn Hills, Mich., Oct 23, 2009  -  The Dodge Ram brand continues to refine the boldest, most powerful and capable pickup truck on the planet with the introduction of the new 2010 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty lineup, offering first-time innovations and features, along with new standards of strength, utility and driveability.</p>
<p>"This is the continuation of the reinvention of our Dodge Ram lineup," said Fred Diaz, President and Chief Executive Officer-Dodge Ram Brand, Chrysler Group LLC. "During the past 5 years, Dodge has gained market share in the heavy-duty pickup segment, and to stay on that track, Dodge Ram keeps innovating. Our new 2010 Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500 pickups will continue to build on our momentum."</p>
<p>First and foremost, the new 2010 Dodge Ram is about capability. In fact, its many features-including powertrain, towing and payload capacities, driving dynamics, premium amenities and styling-truly make it the ultimate heavy-duty pickup truck.</p>
<p>"Our new 2010 Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500 pickups continue to build on Dodge Ram's leadership in the heavy-duty pickup segment," said Scott Kunselman, Senior Vice President-Engineering, Chrysler Group LLC. "Our Ram Heavy Duty pickups reinforce Dodge Ram's bold and powerful reputation and provide improved capability in critical areas of the segment."</p>
<p>The new 2010 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty 2500 and 3500 pickups incorporate some of the design cues from the Dodge Ram 1500. The Dodge Ram Heavy Duty pickup's larger grille incorporates a taller hood that includes louvers on each side. Access to the front winch (on Power Wagon models) and tow hooks led to a unique front-bumper design. The new dual-rear-wheel fenders (3500 dually only) are now integrated into the box stamping and offer a smooth aerodynamic appearance.</p>
<p>The Dodge Ram Heavy Duty will be available in U.S. dealerships in regular, Crew Cab and Mega Cab versions in five trim levels-ST, SLT, TRX, Laramie and Power Wagon-in the first quarter of 2010.</p>
<h2>Ultimate Lineup</h2>
<p>The new 2010 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty pickups are the result of exhaustive customer research and study.</p>
<p>"We went all over the country to learn how people really use their heavy-duty trucks at work and play," said Diaz. "We did our research with a cross-functional team, and what we learned, we brought to the process of creating the all-new 2010 Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500 Heavy Duty pickups."</p>
<p>The big news for the new 2010 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty pickups is the addition of a crew-size cab. Crew-size cabs are the fastest-growing part of the truck segment, growing from approximately 20 percent of the market in 2002 to nearly 50 percent in 2008.</p>
<p>"Research confirmed that heavy-duty customers want a cab with four full-size doors," said Diaz. Also available are regular cab and Mega Cab models.</p>
<p>Customers also want choice in packaging and equipment. As a result, Dodge Ram Heavy-Duty offers five distinct trim levels - ST, SLT, TRX, Laramie and Power Wagon. Each has a unique appearance and offers various equipment options.</p>
<p>"The heavy-duty segment comprises about a third of the full-size truck market, and its customers are the most brand loyal in the industry," said Diaz. "With five models, we want to provide customers with the ultimate lineup of heavy-duty pickups."</p>
<p>Total Dodge Ram (light- and heavy-duty) sales in 2008 were 15.3 percent of full-size pickup segment. Overall Dodge Ram Heavy Duty truck market share in 2008 was 23.0 percent of the heavy-duty truck segment.</p>
<p>The truck segment is still one of the largest segments in the industry, with just more than 1.6 million units sold in 2008.</p>
<p>On average, Dodge Ram Heavy Duty's buyer is predominately male (90 percent) and approximately 55 years old. Eighty-five percent are married and earn an average annual income of $87,000. Thirty-four percent have graduated from college.</p>
<p>Fifty percent of heavy-duty truck buyers use their trucks for work, and 100 percent use their trucks for fun and leisure.</p>
<h2>Dodge Ram's Heavy-duty Resume'</h2>
<p>Dodge Ram continues its strong heritage in the heavy-duty truck market by building on its past. Since 2003, Dodge Ram has launched new models or made improvements to its heavy-duty pickup truck lineup:</p>
<ul>
<li>2003 - Launched all-new version of Ram Heavy Duty</li>
<li>2004 - Introduced diesel engine improvements</li>
<li>2005 - Introduced Dodge Ram Power Wagon</li>
<li>2006 - Introduced Dodge Ram Mega Cab </li>
<li>2008 - Introduced (2007.5 M.Y.) new 6.7-liter Cummins Turbo Diesel engine</li>
<li>2009 - Introduced new 5.7-liter HEMI&#38;reg; engine and new brake system for added brake life and improved fuel economy and new 3.42 axle ratio on diesel automatic transmission  </li>
</ul>
<p>And all-new for 2010, the Crew Cab, with either 6-foot-4-inch or 8-foot boxes, replaces the Quad Cab to meet Heavy-Duty truck customer needs and focus on overall vehicle refinement and ride comfort.</p>
<h2>Ultimate Hauling and Towing Capability</h2>
<p>The backbone of 2010 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty pickups is a hydro-formed, fully boxed frame with advanced torsional rigidity and stiffness. A coil-spring suspension setup is used in the front of the vehicle, while the multi-leaf spring design is maintained in the rear for heavy-duty capability. Front and rear shocks and springs are tuned for optimum ride quality and capability.</p>
<p>Customers in the heavy-duty segment have a range of needs, and most of them involve high levels of capability. The new 2010 Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500 are designed to deliver a total package:</p>
<ul>
<li>Increased Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) on 2500 4x4 crew cab diesel models to 9,600 pounds from 9,000 pounds</li>
<li>Increased Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR) on 3500 dually models with diesel, auto transmission and 4.10 rear axle to 24,500 pounds from 24,000 pounds</li>
<li>Increased GCWR on 3500 4x2 models to 24,000 pounds from 23,000 pounds</li>
<li>Increased front Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) on several models&#58;<ul>
<li>To 5,500 pounds from 5,200 pounds on diesel 4x4 pickups</li>
<li>To 5,000 pounds from 4,700 pounds on diesel 4x2 pickups  </li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p>Suspension upgrades and larger front-axle U-joints, combined with increased front GAWR, result in increased front-weight carrying capability-a must for larger snowplows.</p>
<p>Towing capability is a strong suit of the new 2010 Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500 pickups, with the only standard exhaust brake in the segment (diesel-equipped models). This feature reduces brake fade, prolongs brake life and provides confidence and safety when hauling heavy loads on downhill grades. Large front (360 mm) and rear (358 mm) brakes with integrated Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) increase brake life and braking stability.</p>
<p>An available integrated trailer brake control provides better driver control in towing situations. Trailer brake control information is conveniently displayed in the Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC), which is standard on diesel models and available on gas SLT, TRX and Laramie models.</p>
<p>In addition, new 2010 Dodge Ram transmissions feature Electronic Range Select, which enables the driver to manually limit the highest available transmission gear, allowing manual upshifts and downshifts based on road speed and engine speed. A tow&#47;haul mode switch enhances tow capability while towing. Tow&#47;haul mode is available with both five-speed and six-speed automatic transmissions.</p>
<p>Other tow-friendly features include improved trailer-tow mirrors with integrated turn signals, memory function and puddle lamps. The larger 7-inch x 11-inch trailer-tow mirrors offer improved visibility with larger convex glass surfaces. Mirrors flip up and out in a vertical configuration for improved visibility around wide trailers. Trailer-tow mirrors are now standard on Dodge Ram 3500 models. As an added convenience, a Class IV receiver is now standard on all Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500 Heavy Duty pickups.</p>
<h2>Ultimate Powertrains</h2>
<p>In terms of power, the new 2010 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty tops the charts with the available, legendary 6.7-liter Cummins Turbo Diesel engine, which produces 350 horsepower (261 kW) at 3,000 rpm and 650 lb.-ft. of torque (881 N&#183;m) at only 1,500 rpm.</p>
<p>The most durable and reliable engine in its class, the 6.7-liter Cummins Turbo Diesel features standard oil-change intervals of 7,500 miles. It also has life-to-major overhaul intervals of 350,000 miles, providing more than a 100,000-mile advantage over the competition.</p>
<p>And it's as clean as it is durable. The Cummins 6.7-liter Turbo Diesel engine uses a diesel particulate filter (DPF) to virtually eliminate particulate matter emissions and an adsorber catalyst to reduce oxides of nitrogen (NOx) by as much as 90 percent in order to meet stringent 2010.5 diesel emissions requirements.</p>
<p>Backing up the available 6.7-liter diesel engine is a choice of either a standard G56 six-speed manual transmission or an available 68RFE six-speed automatic transmission. The six-speed manual has an ultra-low first-gear ratio, which makes it ideal for heavy hauling requirements, while the six-speed automatic offers ease of driveability and towing.</p>
<p>The other choice for 2010 Dodge Ram Heavy-Duty customers is the standard 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 gasoline engine, which delivers 383 horsepower (286 kW) at 5,600 rpm and 400 lb.-ft. of torque (542 N&#183;m) at 4,000 rpm. The 5.7-liter HEMI was redesigned for 2009, with several new and improved technologies, including:</p>
<ul>
<li>Variable-valve Timing (VVT) </li>
<li>Increased compression ratio </li>
<li>Active intake manifold with long runners for low-end torque and short runners for high-rpm power </li>
<li>Improved cylinder-head port-flow efficiency </li>
<li>Reduced-restriction exhaust and induction systems  </li>
</ul>
<p>The 5.7-liter HEMI comes standard with the heavy-duty 545RFE five-speed automatic. It offers Electronic Range Select and tow-haul capability, which provide a unique shift schedule that minimizes gear hunting while towing heavy loads. It also provides automatic downshift capability while decelerating.</p>
<p>Two 4x4 transfer cases are available&#58; the NV 271, a manual unit standard on ST and Power Wagon models&#59; and the NV273, an electric shift-on-the-fly transfer case, standard on SLT, TRX and Laramie models.</p>
<p>A choice of four axle ratios are available on new 2010 Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500 Heavy Duty pickups, depending on equipment level&#58; 3.42, 3.73, 4.10 or 4.56.</p>
<h2>Ultimate Off-Road Capability</h2>
<p>The Dodge Ram Power Wagon returns for the 2010 model year. It is equipped with electric-locking front and rear differentials, electronic disconnecting sway bar, Bilstein shocks, 32-inch BF Goodrich off-road tires, underbody skid plate protection, a 4.56 axle ratio for hill climbing and a custom-built Warn&#38;reg; 12,000-lb. winch that is accessible through the front bumper. The 2010 Dodge Ram Power Wagon features new exterior graphics and a lower body two-tone paint scheme.</p>
<h2>Improved Ride Comfort</h2>
<p>Improved suspension tuning and new fluid-filled hydromounts were added to the C-pillar mounts on the 2010 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty to improve damping through the frame-bending mode frequency in order to better manage shake and after-shake response. The result is reduced shake and improved ride compared with the previous generation Ram Heavy Duty.</p>
<h2>Twenty-five safety and security features</h2>
<p>Dodge Ram employs a two-fold approach to safety&#58; passive safety features, including pre-tensioning and load-limiting seat-belt retractors and active safety features, including responsive steering, handling and braking.</p>
<p>Following are 25 safety and security features available on new 2010 Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500 Heavy Duty pickups&#58;</p>
<ul>
<li>
<strong>Anti-lock Brake System (ABS)&#58;</strong> Senses and prevents wheel lockup, offering improved steering control under extreme braking and/or slippery conditions </li>
<li>
<strong>Advanced multi-stage air bags&#58;</strong> Use either an Occupant Classification System or a Low-risk Deployment Air Bag for the front passenger </li>
<li>
<strong>BeltAlert&#58;</strong> Periodically activates a chime and illuminates an icon in the instrument cluster to remind the driver and front passenger to buckle up if a vehicle is driven without the driver being properly belted </li>
<li>
<strong>Brake/Park interlock&#58;</strong> Prevents an automatic transmission or transaxle from being shifted out of Park unless the brake pedal is applied </li>
<li>
<strong>Child-protection rear door locks&#58;</strong> Disable the rear doors' inside-release handle via a small lever on the door-shut face </li>
<li>
<strong>Constant-Force Retractors (CFR)&#58;</strong> Distribute force or load exerted on a seat belt and then gradually release the seat-belt webbing in a controlled manner </li>
<li>
<strong>Crumple zones&#58;</strong> Designed to compress during an accident in order to absorb energy from an impact, decreasing transfer of that energy to occupants </li>
<li>
<strong>Electronic brake-force distribution&#58;</strong> Adjusts braking pressure front to rear, based on weight distribution of passengers and cargo to minimize brake dive during hard braking </li>
<li>
<strong>Energy-absorbing steering column&#58;</strong> The manual-adjust steering column utilizes two hydo-formed coaxial tubes that move relative to each other in order to allow the column to move forward for enhanced energy absorption during a crash. The power-adjust steering column employs a calibrated bending element that collapses during column stroke for optimal energy management </li>
<li>
<strong>Enhanced Accident Response System (EARS)&#58;</strong> Makes it easier for emergency personnel to see and reach occupants in the event of an accident by turning on the interior lighting and unlocking doors after air bag deployment. Also shuts off the flow of fuel to the engine </li>
<li>
<strong>Height-adjustable seat belts&#58;</strong> Allow occupants to raise and lower the shoulder belt. Encourage seat-belt use by offering a more comfortable fit </li>
<li>
<strong>HomeLink universal home security system transceiver&#58;</strong> Stores three separate transmitter radio-frequency codes to operate garage-door openers, security gates, security lighting or other radio-controlled devices </li>
<li>
<strong>Interior head-impact protection&#58;</strong> Interior pillars above the beltline and instrument panel, including areas around windshield and rear-window headers, roof and side-rail structures and shoulder-belt turning loops specifically designed to limit head-impact force </li>
<li>
<strong>Knee bolsters&#58;</strong> The lower instrument panel and the glove box door are designed to properly position the occupant, enabling air bags to work effectively </li>
<li>
<strong>Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren (LATCH) Child Seat Anchor System&#58;</strong> Designed to ease installation of compatible aftermarket child seats </li>
<li>
<strong>Low-risk deployment air bag&#58;</strong> Front-passenger air bag that uses unique shape, venting, folding patterns, advanced inflators or a combination of these four technologies to position and inflate the restraint properly for a belted passenger, while also meeting federal safety requirements for out-of-position, small occupants and rear-facing infant seats. Occupants are advised to always sit properly in their seats with the seat belt fastened. Children 12 years old and younger should always be seated in the back seat correctly using an infant or child restraint system or have the seat belt positioned correctly for their age and weight </li>
<li>
<strong>Parksense&#38;reg; Rear Park Assist System&#58;</strong> Assists at low speeds in reverse to detect stationary objects. Consists of visible (interior lights seen with rearview mirror) and audible warnings for the driver </li>
<li>
<strong>Power-adjustable pedals&#58;</strong> Allows brake, accelerator and clutch (if equipped) pedals to move toward or away from the driver in order to achieve a safe and comfortable seating position for improved vehicle control </li>
<li>
<strong>Remote Keyless Entry&#58;</strong> Locks and unlocks doors, and turns on interior lamps. If the vehicle is equipped with a vehicle-theft security alarm, the remote also arms and disarms that system </li>
<li>
<strong>Seat-belt pretensioners&#58;</strong> During a collision, the impact sensors initiate front seat-belt pretensioners to immediately remove slack, thereby reducing the forward movement of the occupants' heads and torsos </li>
<li>
<strong>Sentry Key&#38;reg; engine immobilizer&#58;</strong> Utilizes an engine key that has an embedded transponder with a pre-programmed security code to discourage vehicle theft. When the key is inserted into the ignition, the controller sends a random number to the transponder and the engine is allowed to start. If an incorrect key is used, the engine will shut off after a few seconds </li>
<li>
<strong>Standard side-curtain air bags&#58;</strong> Extend protection to all outboard front- and rear-seat passengers. Each side air bag has its own impact sensor in order to autonomously trigger the air bag on the side where an impact occurs </li>
<li>
<strong>Three-point seat belts&#58;</strong> Provide front outboard seating positions and all rear seating positions in the Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500 Heavy-Duty pickups with lap and shoulder belts </li>
<li>
<strong>Tire Pressure Monitoring (TPM)&#58;</strong> Informs driver when tire pressure is too low. SLT and Laramie systems display actual tire pressure at each wheel. Pressure-sensor modules within the valve stems of all four road wheels send continuous radio-frequency signals to a receiver and the system (2500 only) </li>
<li>
<strong>Uconnect Phone&#58;</strong> Uses Bluetooth technology to provide voice-controlled wireless communication between the occupants' compatible mobile phone and the vehicle's onboard receiver. The hands-free option promotes safety, freedom, value and flexibility </li>
</ul>
<h2>Bold Exterior Design</h2>
<p>The new 2010 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty pickups carve out a unique design with styling differentiated from the Dodge Ram light-duty lineup.</p>
<p>"We brought some of the best design cues from our Dodge Ram 1500 to the new 2010 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty, yet we set the 2500 and 3500 pickups apart from our light-duty trucks," said Ralph Gilles, President and Chief Executive Officer, Dodge Car Brand and Senior Vice-President-Product Design, Chrysler Group LLC. "The 'big-rig' styling is even more pronounced with the classic Dodge look that conveys bold, powerful and capable."</p>
<p>Styling the new 2010 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty encompassed practical as well as aesthetic considerations.</p>
<p>To accommodate cooling requirements of the 6.7-liter Cummins Turbo Diesel engine (perennially the most popular powerplant in the Ram Heavy Duty lineup with a take-rate of 90 percent), the new 2010 Dodge Ram Heavy-Duty grille opening is larger than the light-duty grille. The larger grille incorporates a taller hood that includes louvers on each side. Access to the front winch (on Power Wagon models) and tow hooks led to a unique front-bumper design.</p>
<p>The new 2010 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty grille includes a chromed surround with either black center billets (ST, SLT and Power Wagon models) or chromed center billets (Laramie model and Big Horn and Lone Star editions). Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500 TRX models feature a body-color surround with black center billets. The grille is body-mounted, while the bumper is frame-mounted.</p>
<p>Front fenders and headlamps of the new 2010 Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500 are shared with light-duty pickup models. External mirrors are sculpted to produce a more usable area for better visibility, with aerodynamic benefit and less noise. Mirrors are equipped with turn-signal indicators, memory function, puddle lamps and adjustable convex mirrors. Mirrors are finished in black on ST, SLT, TRX and Power Wagon, or black and chrome on Laramie models. The larger 7-inch x 11-inch mirror for trailer towing is standard on 3500 models and available on 2500 model pickups. These mirrors flip up and out into a vertical configuration for trailer-tow use.</p>
<p>Front and rear doors follow the style pioneered by the 2009 Dodge Ram 1500-a design that places the door cut to the side of the truck, rather than into the roof, in order to reduce wind noise and weight.</p>
<p>The new dual-rear-wheel fenders (3500 dually only) are now integrated into the box stamping and offer a smooth aerodynamic appearance.</p>
<p>The tailgate is sculpted for better air flow, incorporating a spoiler in the upper part of the sheet metal. This tailgate also accommodates an available back-up camera for convenient trailer hook-ups and includes a lift-assist feature that makes raising and lowering a one-hand operation. Standard bedrail protection is included with both the 6-foot-4-inch and 8-foot cargo boxes. The boxes now feature bedrail caps that protect sheet metal from dents and scratching.</p>
<h2>Upgraded Interiors&#58; Ultimate Comfort, Convenience and Appearance</h2>
<p>Inside, the new 2010 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty offers abundant amenities, comfort and convenience. Many of the comfort and convenience features were first pioneered with the 2009 Dodge Ram 1500.</p>
<p>Interior appointments include soft-feel door bolsters and armrests and one-piece molded door panels for premium comfort. Seats are redesigned with improved power lumbar and lateral support, which creates a comfortable cabin on even the longest work days. Six-ring instrumentation keeps track of vehicle functions, while many controls are arrayed in the center stack for easy access to buttons and knobs.</p>
<p>Other available features include two-tone upholstery with full-width contrasting stitching on the instrument panel&#59; premium seating with heat and ventilation&#59; heated rear seats&#59; heated steering wheel&#59; automatic temperature control&#59; two-tone upholstery&#59; memory seats, radio and mirrors&#59; navigation&#59; adjustable pedals and numerous infotainment options, including SIRIUS Backseat TV&#8482; with three channels of programming, Uconnect Multimedia with a 30-gigabyte hard drive and an available first-in-segment 10-speaker surround-sound system.</p>
<p>Storage is top-of-mind with many work- and leisure-oriented customers, and Dodge Ram provides many more storage locations in its new 2010 Ram Heavy Duty pickups.</p>
<p>A new-for-2010 available center console features an upper bin that is large enough to hold a laptop computer (with an accessible power outlet) and a lower bin that accommodates hanging files. In addition, the console offers several other storage compartments-room enough to store business tools and personal items.</p>
<p>Additional storage locations are built into the instrument panel, front and rear door panels, seat backs and even the floor. In the crew-size cab, two in-floor bins located in the rear footwells offer storage enough for 10 12-ounce cans. Bins have removable liners for easy cleanout. Upper and lower glove boxes provide a total of more than 800 cubic inches of storage.</p>
<h2>The Ultimate Cab - Mega Cab</h2>
<p>The new 2010 Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500 Mega Cab models retain their title of best-in-class interior room in the segment, including:</p>
<ul>
<li>Largest, longest cab (143.2 cubic feet, 111.1 inches long) </li>
<li>Largest interior cargo volume (72.2 cubic feet) </li>
<li>Largest cargo volume behind rear seat (7.7 cubic feet) </li>
<li>Largest flat-floor load area (16.8 square feet) </li>
<li>Largest second-row leg room (44.2 inches) </li>
<li>Largest rear-door opening (34.5 inches wide, 35.5 inches high) </li>
<li>Largest rear-door open angle (85 degrees) </li>
<li>First-ever reclining rear seats (22- to 37-degree seat-back angle)</li>
</ul>
<h2>Saltillo Assembly Plant</h2>
<p>The new 2010 Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500 Heavy Duty pickups will be built at Chrysler Group LLC's Saltillo Assembly Plant in Coahuila, Mexico. One of the company's most flexible plants, the Saltillo plant produces the Dodge Ram 1500 regular cab, the Ram 2500&#47;3500 Heavy Duty and the Ram 3500, 4500 and 5500 Chassis Cabs.</p>
<p>The manufacturing processes in use at the Saltillo facility provide the ability to balance production with demand and enable the plant to efficiently build low-volume vehicles that take advantage of market niches. As needed, the plant can quickly shift production volumes between different models within a single plant or among multiple plants. This not only allows the company to produce a high-quality product, but also to do so faster and at lower cost.</p>
<p>Production of the new 2010 Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500 Heavy Duty pickups also will be enabled by the Saltillo plant's recent expansion, which allows the facility to manage the added complexity of the Dodge Ram Heavy Duty pickups' chassis and suspensions, including two chassis lengths, regular, crew-size cab and Mega Cab versions, 4x2 and 4x4 variants, and single- and dual-rear-wheel models.</p>
<p>The Saltillo Assembly Plant has more than 1,700 employees on two shifts and is one of five Chrysler Group LLC manufacturing facilities in Mexico.</p>
<h2>Ram Brand</h2>
<p>With a work-hard, play-hard attitude, Ram offers the boldest, most powerful and capable pickup truck lineup on the planet.</p>
<p>Introduced in 2008, the Ram 1500 is a game-changer in terms of its ability to "outsmart" and "out-tough" the competition with its bold exterior design, crafted and refined interior, engineering excellence, superb innovation and best-in-class features and amenities.</p>
<p>The Ram 1500 also ranks at the top of Strategic Vision Inc.'s (SVI) 2009 Total Quality Index&#8482; (TQI) in the full-size truck segment. According to the survey, the Ram 1500 leads the way with the highest Total Quality score of any truck in the 15-year history of the study. Customers specifically noted that the Ram has the best added storage capability along with the best truck interior ever rated by customers.</p>
<p>Ram will add to its award-winning truck lineup with the introduction of its all-new 2010 Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500 Heavy Duty Trucks. The new Heavy-Duty trucks provide customers with first-time innovations and features along with new standards of strength, utility and driveability, building on the Ram's leadership in the Heavy-Duty pickup segment.</p>
<p>Ram will further enhance its commercial vehicle presence with the introduction of a "new crew" of commercial-grade work trucks&#58; the new 2011 Dodge Ram 3500, 4500 and 5500 Chassis Cabs. Led by an all-new crew cab, the new 2011 Dodge Ram Chassis Cabs are built on a proven frame and chassis and engineered for maximum uptime, optimum performance and enhanced commercial capability.</p>]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">2009_10_23_Ram_New_Crew</guid><pubDate>October 23, 2009</pubDate><category>dodge_news dodge internal</category><source url="http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news">Chrysler Media Services LLC</source><dc:subject name="Dodge News" category="System Tag">dodge_news</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Dodge" category="System Tag">dodge</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Recent News From" category="System Tag">internal</dc:subject></item>
<item><title>Dodge Challenger's Gone Plum Crazy</title><link>http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news/articles/?guid=2009_10_22_Plumb_Crazy</link><description><![CDATA[
<ul>
<li>Plum Crazy returns from the Dodge car paint code archive for an exclusive production run</li>
<li>Adding even more throwback style, Dodge Challenger R/T Classic in Plum Crazy Pearl Coat is available with matte black or new bright white dual-wide R/T body-side stripes</li>
<li>Limited-edition Dodge Challenger SRT8&#38;reg; Plum Crazy features performance seats with Plum Crazy accented seat stripe</li>
<li>Directly available through Mopar&#38;reg;, Katzkin leather seat sets are available in multiple color and piping combinations to highlight Dodge Challenger's Plum Crazy exterior paint and stripes  </li>
</ul>
<p>Auburn Hills, Mich., Oct 22, 2009  -  Dodge today announced an exclusive production run of the 2010 Dodge Challenger R/T Classic and SRT8 featuring the classic Plum Crazy Pearl Coat exterior color. Both Dodge Challenger models deliver the best of modern American muscle-car characteristics - unmistakable design, world-class handling, powerful HEMI&#38;reg; V-8 engines and technology - now with an extra dose of nostalgia.</p>
<p>"The new Plum Crazy R/T Classic and SRT8 feature more than just memorable blast-from-the-past design cues and HEMI engines; both models exude the very core of Dodge Challenger's roots," said Ralph Gilles, President and Chief Executive Officer, Dodge Car Brand and Senior Vice President - Product Design, Chrysler Group LLC. "Our new Plum Crazy limited-edition models pay homage to Challenger's heritage while delivering the passion and excitement Dodge fans and customers demand."</p>
<p>The U.S. Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) for the new 2010 Dodge Challenger R/T Classic in Plum Crazy Pearl Coat is $35,140, while the high-performance SRT8 model is $44,155 (both prices include $725 destination). Both Plum Crazy models are available for ordering now at Dodge dealerships nationwide.</p>
<h2>2010 Dodge Challenger R/T Classic Plum Crazy</h2>
<p>Based on the powerful 2010 Dodge Challenger R/T, the Dodge Challenger R/T Classic Plum Crazy edition is the first to offer dual throwback A-line body-side R/T stripes in matte black or new bright white. Completing the look are "Challenger" fender badges in classic script, large 20-inch polished-chrome heritage wheels with all-season performance tires, classic egg-crate grille with heritage "R/T" badge, body-color rear spoiler, functional hood scoop and chromed fuel-filler door.</p>
<p>When paired with the Tremec six-speed manual transmission, the 2010 Dodge Challenger R/T Classic Plum Crazy includes the performance-minded Track Pak with precision-shift "pistol-grip" shifter, anti-spin 3.92 differential and a performance-tuned dual exhaust with two low-restriction bottle resonators for maximum "throatiness." And when it's time to deliver, the Plum Crazy R/T Classic can accelerate from zero to 60 mph in less than 6 seconds with its powerful 376 horsepower (280 kW) and 410 lb.-ft. of torque (556 Nm) 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 engine.</p>
<h2>2010 Dodge Challenger SRT8 Plum Crazy</h2>
<p>If the Dodge Challenger R/T Classic in Plum Crazy is not exciting enough, the 2010 Dodge Challenger SRT8 version delivers even more punch and exclusivity with its 6.1-liter HEMI V-8 engine producing 425 horsepower and 420 lb.-ft. of torque, performance-tuned ride and handling, benchmark braking and race-inspired interior with unique SRT-designed appointments.</p>
<p>The limited-production Dodge Challenger SRT8 in Plum Crazy is based on the 2010 Dodge Challenger SRT8 and features exterior-matching SRT performance seats with Plum Crazy accented stripe.</p>
<h2>Production of the 2010 Dodge Challenger R/T Classic and SRT8 in Plum Crazy</h2>
<p>Production of the all-new 2010 Dodge Challenger R/T Classic and SRT8 in limited-production Plum Crazy Pearl Coat will start in late November 2009 at the Brampton Assembly plant in Brampton, Ontario, Canada. It will be built on the same assembly line as the award-winning and quality-proven Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300.</p>
<h2>About the 2010 Dodge Challenger</h2>
<p>The 2010 Dodge Challenger merges the best American muscle-car characteristics - unmistakable design, world-class handling, powerful engines and technology - to delight driving enthusiasts across several generations. The Dodge Challenger accommodates five passengers in a two-door coupe produced from the company's proven rear-wheel-drive platform. With three models of head-turning styling, two legendary HEMI V-8 engine choices, up to 25 highway mpg, more than 25 safety and security features and modern amenities including Uconnect&#8482; Navigation with voice-activated navigation system and real-time traffic available it's no surprise Dodge Challenger was awarded J.D. Power and Associates "Most Appealing Midsize Sporty Car" in their 2009 APEAL Study.</p>]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">2009_10_22_Plumb_Crazy</guid><pubDate>October 22, 2009</pubDate><category>dodge_news dodge internal</category><source url="http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news">Chrysler Media Services LLC</source><dc:subject name="Dodge News" category="System Tag">dodge_news</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Dodge" category="System Tag">dodge</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Recent News From" category="System Tag">internal</dc:subject></item>
<item><title>2010 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty and 2010 Dodge Dakota Take Top Honors at the Texas Auto Writers Annual Texas Truck Rodeo</title><link>http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news/articles/?guid=2009_10_19_ramhd_dakota_top_honors</link><description><![CDATA[
<ul>
<li>All&#45;new 2010 Ram 3500 named &#34;Heavy Duty Pickup Truck of Texas&#44;&#34; beating &#190;&#45; and one&#45;ton competition</li>
<li>2010 Dodge Dakota named &#34;Mid&#45;size Truck of Texas&#34;</li>
</ul>
<p>San Antonio&#44; Texas&#44; Oct 19&#44; 2009  &#45;</p>
<p>Dodge Ram Heavy Duty and Dodge Dakota took top honors at the Texas Auto Writers Association &#40;TAWA&#41; annual Truck Rodeo outside of San Antonio&#44; Texas this past weekend. TAWA members named the all&#45;new 2010 Dodge Ram 3500 &#34;Heavy Duty Pickup Truck of Texas&#44;&#34; giving Dodge top honors over &#190;&#45; and one&#45;ton competitors. The 2010 Dodge Dakota also won &#34;Mid&#45;size Truck of Texas.&#34;</p>
<p>&#34;We&#39;re very proud of these awards; they affirm our leadership in the truck market&#44;&#34; said Fred Diaz&#44; President and Chief Executive Officer Dodge Ram Brand&#44; Chrysler Group LLC. &#34;In a head&#45;to&#45;head competition&#44; our all&#45;new 2010 Ram Heavy Duty un&#45;seated last year&#39;s winner&#44; right in the pickup truck capital of the U.S. Ram is not only the best heavy&#45;duty truck we&#39;ve ever built; it&#39;s the best heavy&#45;duty truck on the market&#44; hands down. We&#39;re also proud that the Dodge Dakota won its category&#44; affirming Dakota&#39;s capability and versatility.&#34;</p>
<p>Judging by the 40&#45;plus TAWA members occurs over two full days of on&#45; and off&#45;road evaluation. Consideration is given to everything from exterior styling and off&#45;road capability to the entrant&#39;s overall utility&#44; value and fuel efficiency.</p>
<p>&#34;Trucks are the work horses of Texas&#44; said Harold Gunn&#44; President of TAWA. &#34;And the Truck Rodeo is the most comprehensive evaluation of new trucks and SUVs in the country. The wins for Ram Heavy Duty and Dodge Dakota are significant because our Truck Rodeo offers journalists a chance to judge vehicles in side&#45;by&#45;side comparisons and these top awards were given based on individual impressions and by secret ballot.&#34;</p>
<p>About Ram Heavy Duty</p>
<p>The 2010 Ram Heavy Duty brings increased capability and innovate new features to the heavy&#45;duty segment with all&#45;new styling&#44; an all&#45;new crew&#45;size cab and a pair of legendary engines&#58; the 6.7&#45;liter Cummins Turbo Diesel with 350 horsepower&#44; producing 650 lb&#45;ft. of torque and the most powerful standard engine in the segment&#44; the 383 horsepower 5.7&#45;liter HEMI&#174; V&#45;8 with 400 lb.&#45;ft. of torque.</p>
<p>Ram Heavy Duty pickup trucks offer &#34;big rig&#34; styling&#44; power and capability. With an uncompromising attitude that remains the standard for all full&#45;size heavy&#45;duty pickups&#44; Ram Heavy Duty delivers the performance and amenities customers demand.</p>
<p>About Dodge Dakota</p>
<p>Designed for customers with active lifestyles&#44; the 2010 Dodge Dakota may be equipped for work or play.</p>
<p>Dodge Dakota features best&#45;in&#45;class towing of up to 7&#44;250 pounds&#44; the greatest interior room of any mid&#45;size truck with 30 cubic feet of interior space in Extended Cab models and 37.1 cubic feet in Crew Cabs and the largest and longest standard cargo bed in its class&#58; 6&#45;foot 6 inches in the Extended Cab.</p>]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">2009_10_19_ramhd_dakota_top_honors</guid><pubDate>October 19, 2009</pubDate><category>dodge_news dodge internal dakota ram</category><source url="http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news">Chrysler Media Services LLC</source><dc:subject name="Dodge News" category="System Tag">dodge_news</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Dodge" category="System Tag">dodge</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Recent News From" category="System Tag">internal</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Dakota" category="Dodge Vehicles">dakota</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Ram" category="Dodge Vehicles">ram</dc:subject></item>
<item><title>Cool-for-School "Moparized" Minivans</title><link>http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news/articles/?guid=2009_9_28_cool_for_school</link><description><![CDATA[
<p>Back&#45;to&#45;school Minivan Supplies From Mopar&#174;</p>
<ul>
<li>Mopar offers more than 50 accessories for Chrysler Town &#38; Country and Dodge Grand Caravan</li>
<li>Best&#45;selling Mopar minivan accessory &#8212; molded running boards &#8212; make it easier for children to get in and out of Chrysler and Dodge minivans</li>
<li>Mopar technology keeps passengers connected with Uconnect&#8482;  Web&#44; Uconnect Phone and interface module for iPod&#174;</li>
<li>Easy&#45;to&#45;use head restraint DVD rear&#45;seat video system provides instant entertainment&#44; for the carpool or long road trips</li>
<li>Mopar roof&#45;mounted bike carriers&#44; rubber slush mats and totes provide worry&#45;free transporting of bicycles&#44; muddy boots or out&#45;of&#45;control science fair projects</li>
<li>Weekend fun at the campground may be enhanced with a Mopar tent kit&#44; a roof&#45;mounted canoe carrier and a third&#45;row cargo bin and table</li>
<li>Complete list of accessories and performance parts available at www.mopar.com</li>
</ul>
<p>Auburn Hills&#44; Mich.&#44; Sep 28&#44; 2009  &#45;  With the arrival of the new school year&#44; Mopar is offering Chrysler Town &#38; Country and Dodge Grand Caravan customers a slew of accessories that will move them to the head of the class.</p>
<p>&#34;Since inventing the minivan more than 25 years ago&#44; Chrysler and Dodge have created more than 65 innovations in the minivan segment&#44;&#34; said Pietro Gorlier&#44; President &#38; Chief Executive Officer&#44; Mopar Service&#44; Parts &#38; Customer Care. &#34;At Mopar&#44; we can further maximize our minivans with proven&#44; quality&#45;tested technology and hardware.&#34;</p>
<p>Following are Mopar&#39;s Top 12 school supplies for Chrysler and Dodge minivans&#58;</p>
<p>1.Interface Module for iPod&#58; You can&#39;t play your iPod in class&#44; but you can play it loud in your minivan. Using an occupant&#39;s iPod loaded with favorite tunes&#44; this interface allows playback through the minivan&#39;s audio system. iPod music file navigation is controlled through the iPod&#39;s controls. MSRP&#58; &#36;113</p>
<p>2.Roof&#45;mounted Bike Carriers&#58; Instead of leaving a bicycle behind when weather is unpredictable&#44; Mopar&#39;s bike carrier accommodates virtually all types of modern bike designs. Mopar roof&#45;mounted bike carriers are available in two designs&#58; the fork&#45;mounted design carries one bike securely by the front fork and rear wheel&#44; while the upright&#45;mounted design holds one bike locked by the frame with both wheels secured. Both roof&#45;mounted carriers feature extra&#45;large rubber inserts to protect bike surfaces and mount to Mopar Sport Utility Bars. MSRP&#58;</p>
<ul>
<li>Roof&#45;mounted Bike Carrier&#44; Fork&#45;mounted &#36;172</li>
<li>Roof&#45;mounted Bike Carrier&#44; Upright&#45;mounted &#36;223</li>
<li>Sport Utility Bars &#36;238</li>
</ul>
<p>3.Molded Running Boards&#58; Best&#45;selling Mopar accessory for minivans &#8212; molded running boards provide easy in&#45;and&#45;out access for younger children&#44; while offering a step&#45;height skid&#45;resistant surface for easier access to the Mopar Roof&#45;mounted Bike Carrier. Available as a factory&#45;installed option or an installed accessory at your local Chrysler or Dodge dealership. MSRP &#36;556</p>
<p>4.Slush Mats&#58; Children love to play in the mud and snow&#44; and Mopar&#39;s heavy&#45;duty rubber mats offer protection of the vehicle&#39;s carpet&#44; while matching the interior color of Chrysler and Dodge minivans. Deep grooves prevent water&#44; snow and mud from spilling on to the vehicle&#39;s carpet&#44; while its rubber&#45;nibbed backing helps keep mats in place. MSRP&#58;</p>
<ul>
<li>First and second&#45;row mats for Stow &#39;n Go&#174; &#36;101</li>
<li>First and second&#45;row mats for Swivel &#39;n Go&#8482; &#36;101</li>
<li>Third&#45;row mat for Swivel &#39;n Go &#36;52.75</li>
</ul>
<p>5.Uconnect&#8482; Web&#58; Keeping students connected&#44; this system provides high&#45;speed WiFi and 3G cellular connectivity for a new level of wireless technology. The system transforms the vehicle into a mobile &#34;hot spot&#34; and provides instant access to web sites&#44; e&#45;mail&#44; personalized music&#44; online gaming&#44; photo albums and more. Manufacturer&#39;s Suggested Retail Price &#40;MSRP&#41;&#58; &#36;499</p>
<p>6.Uconnect Phone&#58; Promoting safety&#44; freedom and hands&#45;free flexibility&#44; especially through 25&#45;mph school zones&#44; this voice&#45;controlled wireless communication system allows operation between mobile phones and the vehicle&#39;s onboard receiver. In addition&#44; an iPod&#174; integration cable offers digital audio quality and simple&#45;to&#45;use controls via the radio and steering&#45;wheel controls. MSRP&#58; &#36;257</p>
<p>7.Cargo Tote&#58; This four&#45;compartment&#44; portable organizer allows for added storage&#44; and easily collapses when not in use. With its compartmental design and easy&#45;to&#45;grab side handles&#44; the tote is ideal for hauling sports equipment&#44; arts and crafts or snacks for a class field trip. MSRP&#58; &#36;29.60</p>
<p>8.Head Restraint DVD Rear Seat Video&#58; This innovative seven&#45;inch DVD player features an integrated design into both driver and front&#45;passenger head restraints. With its ideal viewing height&#44; sharp LCD wide&#45;screen display&#44; built&#45;in DVD player&#44; dual audio&#47;video inputs and easy&#45;to&#45;use front&#45;mounted controls&#44; hours of entertainment is only a touch&#45;of&#45;a&#45;button away. In addition to its upholstery&#45;matching color and design&#44; a wireless remote offers additional convenience. MSRP&#58; &#36;1&#44;625</p>
<p>9.Tent Kit&#58; After a tough school week&#44; this liftgate&#45;mounted tent allows for an instant campground or convenient covered tailgating space. The tent maximizes interior space and offers a stand&#45;alone design with full rain fly&#44; storage net and inside pockets. MSRP&#58; &#36;312</p>
<p>10.Roof&#45;mounted Canoe Carrier&#58; Making family weekends away from school even better&#44; the roof&#45;mounted single canoe carrier offers easy mounting with its latching nylon straps and anchors to Mopar Sport Utility Bars. MSRP&#58;</p>
<ul>
<li>Roof&#45;mounted Canoe Carrier &#36;78.60</li>
<li>Sport Utility Bars &#36;101</li>
</ul>
<p>11.Third&#45;row Cargo Bin and Table&#58; Offering instant tailgating fun&#44; the large third&#45;row cargo bin &#8212; with its dual storage nets and washable construction &#8212; keeps cool when filled with ice. A removable table&#44; which also doubles as an insulating lid to the third&#45;row bin&#44; provides a vinyl&#45;covered removable table with folding legs. Dark Khaki and Medium Slate Gray options match Chrysler and Dodge minivan interior colors. MSRP&#58; &#36;280</p>
<p>12.Hitch Receiver&#58; When the family needs to get away from it all&#44; the hitch receiver is perfect for the family pop&#45;up camper or motorboat&#44; and is specifically designed to meet the 3&#44;600&#45;lb. towing capability for Chrysler and Dodge minivans. It also accommodates the easy&#45;to&#45;use Mopar Hitch&#45;mounted bike carrier with carrying capacity for up to four bikes. &#40;3&#44;600 lb. towing capability for 3.8&#45;liter and 4.0&#45;liter engines equipped with Trailer Tow Group&#41; MSRP&#58;</p>
<ul>
<li>Hitch Receiver &#36;323</li>
<li>Hitch&#45;mounted Four Bike Carrier &#36;215</li>
</ul>
<p>
<strong>About 2010 Chrysler Town &#38; Country</strong>
<br/>With more than 25 years of engineering&#44; including 65 minivan&#45;firsts innovations&#44; the 2010 Chrysler Town &#38; Country continues to set the mark in minivan luxury&#44; safety and efficiency. With segment&#45;first Blind&#45;spot Monitoring &#40;BSM&#41; and Rear Cross Path &#40;RCP&#41; accident&#45;avoidance safety systems&#44; unsurpassed 17 city &#47; 25 highway mpg fuel economy &#8212; a label unbeaten among minivans&#44; the Chrysler Town &#38; Country remains the best vehicle to transport people and things.</p>
<p>The 2010 Chrysler Town &#38; Country offers customers a contemporary appearance&#44; three different models&#44; two distinct seating and storage systems&#8212;Stow &#39;n Go and Swivel &#39;n Go&#8212;unmatched entertainment systems and more than 40 available safety features. The 2010 Chrysler Town &#38; Country received the U.S. Government&#39;s Five Star crash test rating in both front and side impact tests. The U.S. Manufacturer&#39;s Suggested Retail Price &#40;MSRP&#41; for the 2010 Chrysler Town &#38; Country LX is &#36;25&#44;995 &#40;including &#36;820 destination&#41;.</p>
<p>
<strong>About 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan</strong>
<br/>As the first to introduce the modern minivan in 1984&#44; Dodge continues to revolutionize the family road trip. The 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan offers more than 65 minivan&#45;first features including the minivan&#45;first Stow &#39;n Go and segment&#45;exclusive Swivel &#96;n Go seating system&#44; turning the minivan into a &#34;family room on wheels.&#34; The vehicle also offers a minivan&#45;first dual screen DVD entertainment system with SIRIUS Backseat TV with family programming channels that include Nickelodeon&#44; Disney Channel and Cartoon Network Mobile. The 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan received the U.S. Government&#39;s Five Star crash test rating in both front and side impacts. The U.S. Manufacturer&#39;s Suggested Retail Price &#40;MSRP&#41; for the 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan SE is &#36;23&#44;995 &#40;including &#36;820 destination&#41;.</p>
<p>
<strong>Mopar Brand</strong>
<br/>Mopar distributes approximately 280&#44;000 parts and accessories in more than 90 countries and is the source for all original equipment parts for Chrysler&#44; Jeep and Dodge vehicles. Mopar parts are unique in that they are engineered by the same teams that create factory&#45;authorized vehicle specifications for Chrysler&#44; Jeep and Dodge vehicles &#8212; a direct connection that no other aftermarket parts company can provide.</p>
<p>
<strong>More than 70 Years of Mopar</strong>
<br/>When Chrysler bought Dodge in 1928&#44; the need for a dedicated parts manufacturer&#44; supplier and distribution system to support the growing enterprise led to the formation of the Chrysler Motor Parts Corporation &#40;CMPC&#41; in 1929.</p>
<p>Mopar &#40;a simple contraction of the words MOtor and PARts&#41; was trademarked for a line of antifreeze products in 1937. It also was widely used as a moniker for the CMPC. The Mopar brand made its mark in the 1960&#39;s &#8212; the muscle car era. The Chrysler Corporation built race&#45;ready Dodge and Plymouth &#34;package cars&#34; equipped with special high&#45;performance parts. Mopar carried a line of &#34;special parts&#34; for super stock drag racers and developed its racing parts division called Mopar Performance Parts to enhance speed and handling for both road and racing use.</p>]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">2009_9_28_cool_for_school</guid><pubDate>September 28, 2009</pubDate><category>dodge_news dodge internal chrysler chrysler_news town_country grand_caravan minivans 2010 featured</category><source url="http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news">Chrysler Media Services LLC</source><dc:subject name="Dodge News" category="System Tag">dodge_news</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Dodge" category="System Tag">dodge</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Recent News From" category="System Tag">internal</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Chrysler" category="System Tag">chrysler</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Chrysler News" category="System Tag">chrysler_news</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Town &#38; Country" category="Chrysler Vehicles">town_country</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Grand Caravan" category="Dodge Vehicles">grand_caravan</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Minivans" category="Automotive">minivans</dc:subject><dc:subject name="2010" category="System Tag">2010</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Featured" category="System Tag">featured</dc:subject></item>
<item><title>Chrysler, Jeep&#174; and Dodge Return to Leasing-Offering Consumers More Financing Options</title><link>http://www.chrysler.com/en/experience/news/articles/?guid=2009_9_16_chrysler_jeep_dodge_return_to_leasing</link><description><![CDATA[
<p>Chrysler Group LLC today announced it will offer a leasing option for U.S. customers on all 2010 model year Chrysler&#44; Jeep&#174; and Dodge vehicles through Chrysler&#39;s preferred lender&#44; GMAC Financial Services.</p>
<p>&#34;We are pleased to re&#45;enter the leasing market so we can offer customers the opportunity to lease vehicles at rates competitive with the marketplace&#44;&#34; said Peter Fong&#44; President and Chief Executive Officer&#8212;Chrysler Brand and Lead Executive for the Sales Organization&#44; Chrysler Group LLC. &#34;Our ability to offer additional financing options will benefit consumers who have long been fans of leasing and appreciate the flexibility this financing option gives them.&#34;</p>
<p>Effective Sept. 17&#44; 2009&#44; Chrysler&#44; Jeep and Dodge will offer leasing options for all 2010 model year vehicles in the United States. Featured vehicles with special lease rates through Sept. 30&#44; 2009 are&#58;</p>
<ul>
<li>Chrysler Town &#38; Country</li>
<li>Dodge Grand Caravan&#44; Ram 1500 and Journey</li>
<li>Jeep Wrangler and Liberty</li>
</ul>
<p>Chrysler&#44; Jeep and Dodge also offer the following incentives&#44; which are valid through Sept. 30&#44; 2009&#58;</p>
<p>2009 Model Year Vehicles&#58;<br/>Chrysler Group is pleased to offer 0 percent financing for up to 72 months through GMAC Financial Services or up to &#36;4&#44;500 Consumer Cash on select 2009 model year Chrysler&#44; Jeep and Dodge vehicles.</p>
<p>2010 Model Year Vehicles&#58;<br/>On select 2010 model Chrysler&#44; Jeep and Dodge vehicles&#44; limited Consumer Cash of up to &#36;3&#44;000 or attractive financing rates through GMAC Financial Services are available.</p>
<p>Current Chrysler Group vehicle owners are also eligible for &#36;1&#44;000 Owner Loyalty Bonus Cash available to use towards the purchase of select 2009 model year vehicles or the purchase or lease of select 2010 model year vehicles.</p>
<p>Chrysler Group LLC offers consumers 35 Chrysler&#44; Jeep and Dodge vehicles from which to choose at more than 2&#44;300 dealerships located throughout the United States.</p>
<p>
<strong>About Chrysler Group LLC</strong>
</p>
<p>Chrysler Group LLC&#44; formed in 2009 from a global strategic alliance with Fiat Group&#44; produces Chrysler&#44; Jeep&#44; Dodge&#44; Mopar&#174; and Global Electric Motors &#40;GEM&#41; brand vehicles and products. With the resources&#44; technology and worldwide distribution network required to compete on a global scale&#44; the alliance builds on Chrysler&#39;s culture of innovation &#8212; first established by Walter P. Chrysler in 1925 &#8212; and Fiat&#39;s complementary technology &#8212; from a company whose heritage dates back to 1899.</p>
<p>Headquartered in Auburn Hills&#44; Mich.&#44; Chrysler Group LLC&#39;s product lineup features some of the world&#39;s most recognizable vehicles&#44; including the Chrysler 300&#44; Jeep Wrangler and Dodge Ram. Fiat will contribute world&#45;class technology&#44; platforms and powertrains for small&#45; and medium&#45;sized cars&#44; allowing Chrysler Group to offer an expanded product line including environmentally friendly vehicles.</p>]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">2009_9_16_chrysler_jeep_dodge_return_to_leasing</guid><pubDate>September 16, 2009</pubDate><category>chrysler_news chrysler internal dodge_news jeep_news chrysler_llc jeep dodge</category><source url="http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news">Chrysler Media Services LLC</source><dc:subject name="Chrysler News" category="System Tag">chrysler_news</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Chrysler" category="System Tag">chrysler</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Recent News From" category="System Tag">internal</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Dodge News" category="System Tag">dodge_news</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Jeep News" category="System Tag">jeep_news</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Chrysler LLC" category="Automotive">chrysler_llc</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Jeep" category="System Tag">jeep</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Dodge" category="System Tag">dodge</dc:subject></item>
<item><title>The 2010 Dodge Journey Earns Highest Possible Rating From the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety</title><link>http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news/articles/?guid=2009_9_10_journey_2010_iihs_rating</link><description><![CDATA[
<ul>
<li>2010 Dodge Journey named Insurance Institute for Highway Safety &#40;IIHS&#41; 2009 Top Safety Pick </li>
<li>Chrysler Group LLC exhibits safety expertise and quality engineering in popular crossover segment </li>
</ul>
<p>Auburn Hills&#44; Mich. &#44; Sep 10&#44; 2009  &#45;  Chrysler Group LLC announced today that the 2010 Dodge Journey has earned the 2009 Top Safety Pick rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety &#40;IIHS&#41;.</p>
<p>&#34;Another Top Safety Pick for Chrysler Group is not only a great achievement for the Dodge Journey but also for the company&#44;&#34; said Scott Kunselman&#44; Senior Vice President&#8212;Engineering&#44; Chrysler Group LLC. &#34;IIHS&#39; recognition of our products demonstrates Chrysler&#39;s leadership in occupant protection and overall vehicle engineering capability.&#34;</p>
<p>The 2010 Dodge Journey incorporates a two&#45;fold approach to safety&#58; passive features&#44; including pre&#45;tensioning seat&#45;belt retractors&#44; supplemental side&#45;curtain air bags and standard torso air bags&#44; combined with accident&#45;avoidance features&#44; including standard Electronic Stability Control &#40;ESC&#41;.</p>
<p>&#34;The Dodge Journey is at the head of the class for safety&#44;&#34; says Institute president Adrian Lund. &#34;The Top Safety Pick designation is our highest award and only goes to vehicles affording the best overall crash protection&#44; plus electronic stability control to help drivers avoid many crashes altogether.&#34;</p>
<p>Standard safety equipment on the 2010 Dodge Journey includes ESC with traction control&#44; Brake Assist and ABS&#44; driver and front&#45;passenger active head restraints&#44; front seat&#45;mounted side airbags and advanced multi&#45;stage front airbags.</p>
<p>The 2010 Dodge Journey offers more than 20 safety features&#44; including&#58;</p>
<p>&#8226; Active Head Restraints<br/>&#8226; Advanced Multi&#45;stage Air Bags<br/>&#8226; All&#45;speed Traction Control<br/>&#8226; Anti&#45;lock Brake System &#40;ABS&#41;<br/>&#8226; Auto&#45;reverse Sun Roof<br/>&#8226; Auto&#45;reverse Window<br/>&#8226; BeltAlert<br/>&#8226; Brake Assist<br/>&#8226; Brake&#47;Park Interlock<br/>&#8226; Child Seat Anchor System &#40;LATCH&#41;<br/>&#8226; Child&#45;protection Rear Door Locks<br/>&#8226; Crumple Zones<br/>&#8226; Digressive Load&#45;limiting Retractors<br/>&#8226; Electronic Stability Control &#40;ESC&#41;<br/>&#8226; Energy&#45;absorbing Steering Column<br/>&#8226; Enhanced Accident Response System &#40;EARS&#41;<br/>&#8226; Height&#45;adjustable Front Seat Belts<br/>&#8226; Inside Emergency Release<br/>&#8226; Interior Head&#45;impact Protection<br/>&#8226; Knee Bolsters<br/>&#8226; Safety Cage Body Structure<br/>&#8226; Seat&#45;belt Pretensioners &#40;both front seat belts&#41;<br/>&#8226; Side Guard Door Beams<br/>&#8226; Side&#45;curtain Air Bags</p>
<p>About Chrysler Group LLC Chrysler Group LLC&#44; formed in 2009 from a global strategic alliance with Fiat Group&#44; produces Chrysler&#44; Jeep&#174;&#44; Dodge and Mopar&#174; brand vehicles and products. With the resources&#44; technology and worldwide distribution network required to compete effectively on a global scale&#44; the alliance builds on Chrysler&#39;s culture of innovation &#8212; first established by Walter P. Chrysler in 1925 &#8212; and Fiat&#39;s complementary technology. Headquartered in Auburn Hills&#44; Mich.&#44; Chrysler Group LLC&#39;s product lineup features some of the world&#39;s most recognizable vehicles&#44; including the Chrysler Town &#38; Country&#44; Jeep Wrangler and Dodge Ram. Fiat will contribute world&#45;class technology&#44; platforms and powertrains for small&#45; and medium&#45;sized cars&#44; allowing Chrysler Group LLC to offer an expanded product line including environmentally friendly vehicles.</p>]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">2009_9_10_journey_2010_iihs_rating</guid><pubDate>September 10, 2009</pubDate><category>dodge_news dodge internal awards chrysler_llc</category><source url="http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news">Chrysler Media Services LLC</source><dc:subject name="Dodge News" category="System Tag">dodge_news</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Dodge" category="System Tag">dodge</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Recent News From" category="System Tag">internal</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Awards" category="Automotive">awards</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Chrysler LLC" category="Automotive">chrysler_llc</dc:subject></item>
<item><title>2009 Mopar&#174; HEMI&#174; Challenge Race Series Kicks Off at Mac Tools U.S. Nationals</title><link>http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news/articles/?guid=2009_9_1_mopar_hemi_challange_kicks_off</link><description><![CDATA[
<p>23 HEMI&#174; cars will battle at O&#39;Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis on Friday&#44; Sept. 4</p>
<p>Auburn Hills&#44; Mich.&#44; Sep 1&#44; 2009  &#45;</p>
<p>The ninth edition of the Mopar&#174; HEMI&#174; Challenge Race Series at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals pits nearly two dozen of the famous SS&#47;AH 1968 HEMI Darts and Barracudas against each other to see if Charlie Westcott Jr.&#44; will win his fourth Indy HEMI Challenge event in the last five years and collect the &#36;10&#44;000 payout.</p>
<p>Westcott Jr.&#44; the usual favorite in these events&#44; has a brand&#45;new &#39;68 HEMI Barracuda named War Fish running for the first time&#44; so all eyes will be on him to see whether he will again be a threat. &#34;The new car is ready and it&#39;s running well&#44;&#34; said Westcott.</p>
<p>Westcott Jr.&#39;s old War Fish may be the winningest Super Stock HEMI in history&#44; surpassing even the &#39;68 HEMI Barracudas of Ronnie Sox &#40;1969 U.S. Nationals winner&#41; and Arlen Vanke &#40;1968 U.S. Nationals winner&#41;.</p>
<p>No matter what happens to Charlie this year&#44; chances are that the name Westcott will still be listed as one of the favorites. Charlie&#39;s father&#44; Charlie Westcott Sr.&#44; is also a fast runner. He holds the top speed record in the SS&#47;AH class at just a tick below 160 mph.</p>
<p>The field also includes Melvin Daniels&#44; a Yardley&#44; Pa.&#44; dentist who won the most recent Mopar HEMI Challenge. Ohio Chrysler dealer and recent winner Jim Pancake will compete in his &#39;68 HEMI Dart&#44; as will Dodge dealer Darrell Marvel of Big Rapids&#44; Mich. Randy Warford of Nashville&#44; Ind.&#44; will compete in his &#39;68 HEMI Barracuda and is also bringing a new Dodge Challenger Drag Pak by Mopar to run in A&#47;Stock Automatic during the weekend.</p>
<p>The Mopar HEMI Challenge Race Series will visit the Jegs Northern SPORTSnationals&#44; Sept. 25&#8212;27&#44; at National Trail Raceway near Columbus&#44; Ohio&#44; and the Dutch Classic&#44; Oct. 22&#8212;25&#44; at Maple Grove Raceway in Reading&#44; Pa. Each event offers &#36;5&#44;000 prize money to the winner.</p>
<p>
<strong>The Mopar Brand&#58; Authentic Motor Parts and Accessories for Chrysler&#44; Jeep&#174; and Dodge</strong>
<br/>When Chrysler bought Dodge in 1928&#44; the need for a dedicated parts manufacturer&#44; supplier and distribution system to support the growing enterprise led to the formation of the Chrysler Motor Parts Corporation &#40;CMPC&#41; in 1929.</p>
<p>Mopar&#8212;a simple contraction of the words MOtor and PARts&#8212;was trademarked for a line of antifreeze products in 1937. It also was widely used as a moniker for the CMPC.</p>
<p>The Mopar brand made its mark in the 1960s&#8212;the muscle car era. The Chrysler Corporation built race&#45;ready Dodge and Plymouth &#34;package cars&#34; equipped with special high&#45;performance parts. Mopar carried a line of &#34;special parts&#34; for super stock drag racers and developed its racing parts division called Mopar Performance Parts to enhance speed and handling for both road and racing use.</p>
<p>In addition to its proud muscle&#45;car heritage&#44; Mopar established a solid reputation as a one&#45;stop shop for proven&#44; quality&#45;tested&#44; reliable and original parts. Just this year&#44; in 2009&#44; Mopar has introduced more than 200 new parts and accessories.</p>
<p>&#34;Mopar parts are unique in that they are engineered by the same team that creates all of our factory&#45;authorized vehicle specifications for Chrysler&#44; Jeep&#174; and Dodge vehicles&#44;&#34; said Pietro Gorlier&#44; President &#38; CEO&#44; Mopar Service&#44; Parts &#38; Customer Care&#44; Chrysler Group LLC. &#34;At Mopar&#44; we offer more than 280&#44;000 parts and accessories for customers who want to customize and refresh their rides.&#34;</p>
<p>Today&#44; Mopar is responsible for the distribution of authentic Mopar replacement parts&#44; components and accessories for Chrysler&#44; Jeep and Dodge vehicles sold in more than 90 countries. To assure quality&#44; reliability and durability&#44; all Mopar parts and accessories are designed in strict adherence to Chrysler engineering standards.</p>]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">2009_9_1_mopar_hemi_challange_kicks_off</guid><pubDate>September 1, 2009</pubDate><category>dodge_news dodge internal chrysler_llc</category><source url="http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news">Chrysler Media Services LLC</source><dc:subject name="Dodge News" category="System Tag">dodge_news</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Dodge" category="System Tag">dodge</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Recent News From" category="System Tag">internal</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Chrysler LLC" category="Automotive">chrysler_llc</dc:subject></item>
<item><title>&#8216;Big Daddy' Don Garlits to Return to NHRA Drag Racing in a Dodge Challenger Drag Pak by Mopar&#174; at Mac Tools U.S. Nationals</title><link>http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news/articles/?guid=2009_9_1_don_garlits_return_to_nhra</link><description><![CDATA[
<p>Garlits will make his first appearance in organized drag racing in six years</p>
<p>Center Line&#44; Mich.&#44; Aug 31&#44; 2009  &#45;  &#34;Big Daddy&#34; Don Garlits is making a comeback to NHRA competition for the first time since 2003&#44; driving his Dodge Challenger Drag Pak by Mopar&#174; into the heat of NHRA Stock eliminations at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals on Labor Day weekend. His historic first run in the Drag Pak will be on Wednesday&#44; Sept. 2&#44; in A&#47;Stock Automatic qualifying at O&#39;Reilly Raceway Park in Indianapolis. The full U.S. Nationals event is scheduled to begin Sept. 2 with final eliminations on Monday&#44; Sept. 7.</p>
<p>Garlits hung up his helmet after Top Fuel qualifying at the U.S. Nationals exactly six years ago in 2003. He last ran a stock class car in 1963 when he competed in a 1963 Dodge Max Wedge drag package car carrying &#34;Garlits Dodge&#34; graphics. His new Dodge Challenger Drag Pak by Mopar has the same lettering emblazoned on its sides&#44; along with the same Mopar graphics from his historic run last year alongside &#34;Miss Mighty Mopar&#34; Judy Lilly in Drag Pak prototypes at the Mopar Mile&#45;High NHRA Nationals.</p>
<p>&#34;I like my Dodge Challenger Drag Pak much better than a dragster&#44;&#34; said Garlits&#44; referring to the current way Top Fuel dragsters are campaigned. &#34;It takes 25 people to get a dragster to the line these days. All I have to do with the Dodge Challenger is turn the key and take it there. When the light turns green I have a ten&#45;second ride&#8212;which is almost three times what I used to get&#8212;and I even have time to look at the tach and shift gears.&#34;</p>
<p>&#34;Big Daddy&#39;s&#34; 2009 Dodge Challenger is the first Drag Pak by Mopar ever made. He took delivery at the Performance Racing Industry show in December 2008&#44; receiving the keys along with a certificate of authenticity from Mopar. Garlits put the Drag Pak by Mopar through test and exhibition runs at the World Series of Drag Racing at Cordova Dragway Park in Cordova&#44; Ill.&#44; last weekend.</p>
<p>Garlits retired for the first time in 1987&#44; but returned for one race at Atlanta in 1992 and made a 300&#45;mph run at the U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis in 2001. He then ran a limited schedule of four NHRA National events each year in 2002 and 2003 before he stepped out of Top Fuel at the request of his wife&#44; Pat. &#34;I didn&#39;t want to come home and find my clothes all over the front yard&#44;&#34; he said at the time he acquired his new Dodge Challenger&#44; explaining that he had the home&#45;front green light to run a doorslammer in competition&#44; referring to his Drag Pak vehicle.</p>
<p>
<strong>Garlits statistics</strong>
</p>
<p>&#8901; 17 World Championship Titles and 144 National event wins<br/>&#8901; Voted #1 Drag Racer for the past 50 years by the NHRA in 2001<br/>&#8901; Won the prestigious U.S. Nationals eight times<br/>&#8901; Car Craft Magazine Top Fuel Driver of the Year&#58; 1969&#45;70&#44; 1972&#45;73&#44; 1975&#45;78 &#38; 1986<br/>&#8901; Car Craft Magazine &#34;Man of the Year&#34;&#58; 1969&#44; 1971&#45;73<br/>&#8901; American Hot Rod Association &#34;Fuel Driver of the Year&#34;&#58; 1971&#45;74</p>
<p>
<strong>The Mopar Brand&#58; Authentic Motor Parts and Accessories for Chrysler&#44; Jeep&#174; and Dodge</strong>
<br/>When Chrysler bought Dodge in 1928&#44; the need for a dedicated parts manufacturer&#44; supplier and distribution system to support the growing enterprise led to the formation of the Chrysler Motor Parts Corporation &#40;CMPC&#41; in 1929.</p>
<p>Mopar&#8212;a simple contraction of the words MOtor and PARts&#8212;was trademarked for a line of antifreeze products in 1937. It also was widely used as a moniker for the CMPC.</p>
<p>The Mopar brand made its mark in the 1960s&#8212;the muscle car era. The Chrysler Corporation built race&#45;ready Dodge and Plymouth &#34;package cars&#34; equipped with special high&#45;performance parts. Mopar carried a line of &#34;special parts&#34; for super stock drag racers and developed its racing parts division called Mopar Performance Parts to enhance speed and handling for both road and racing use.</p>
<p>In addition to its proud muscle&#45;car heritage&#44; Mopar established a solid reputation as a one&#45;stop shop for proven&#44; quality&#45;tested&#44; reliable and original parts. Just this year&#44; in 2009&#44; Mopar has introduced more than 200 new parts and accessories.</p>
<p>&#34;Mopar parts are unique in that they are engineered by the same team that creates all of our factory&#45;authorized vehicle specifications for Chrysler&#44; Jeep&#174; and Dodge vehicles&#44;&#34; said Pietro Gorlier&#44; President &#38; CEO&#44; Mopar Service&#44; Parts &#38; Customer Care&#44; Chrysler Group LLC. &#34;At Mopar&#44; we offer more than 280&#44;000 parts and accessories for customers who want to customize and refresh their rides.&#34;</p>
<p>Today&#44; Mopar is responsible for the distribution of authentic Mopar replacement parts&#44; components and accessories for Chrysler&#44; Jeep and Dodge vehicles sold in more than 90 countries. To assure quality&#44; reliability and durability&#44; all Mopar parts and accessories are designed in strict adherence to Chrysler engineering standards.</p>]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">2009_9_1_don_garlits_return_to_nhra</guid><pubDate>September 1, 2009</pubDate><category>dodge_news dodge internal</category><source url="http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news">Chrysler Media Services LLC</source><dc:subject name="Dodge News" category="System Tag">dodge_news</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Dodge" category="System Tag">dodge</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Recent News From" category="System Tag">internal</dc:subject></item>
<item><title>The 2010 Chrysler Sebring and 2010 Dodge Avenger with Electronic Stability Control Earn Highest Possible Safety Rating From the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety</title><link>http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news/articles/?guid=2009_8_25_iihs_safety_award</link><description><![CDATA[
<ul>
<li>2010 Chrysler Sebring and 2010 Dodge Avenger with Electronic Stability Control (ESC) named Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) 2009 Top Safety Picks</li>
<li>Chrysler Group LLC demonstrates quality and safety in mid-size sedan segments </li>
</ul>
<p>Chrysler Group LLC announced today that the 2010 Chrysler Sebring and 2010 Dodge Avenger, with ESC, have earned the 2009 Top Safety Pick rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).</p>
<p>"We are proud to receive the highest possible ratings from IIHS for the Chrysler Sebring and Dodge Avenger," said Scott Kunselman, Senior Vice President - Engineering, Chrysler Group LLC. "These sought-after achievements highlight Chrysler's leadership in safety and security technology and occupant protection."</p>
<p>When it comes to safety and security, the 2010 Chrysler Sebring and 2010 Dodge Avenger employ a two-fold approach: passive features, including pre-tensioning seat belt retractors and supplemental side-curtain air bags, are combined with accident-avoidance features, including responsive steering, braking, handling and Electronic Stability Control (ESC).</p>
<p>"A vehicle that earns the Top Safety Pick designation provides the best overall protection in the three most common kinds of crashes," said Adrian Lund, President - Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. "Top-level crash-test performance plus electronic stability control to help keep drivers out of crashes are the tough criteria needed to earn this award."</p>
<p>Available safety equipment on the 2010 Chrysler Sebring and Dodge Avenger includes ESC with traction control, Brake Assist and ABS, driver and front-passenger active head restraints, front seat-mounted side airbags and advanced multi-stage front airbags. The two vehicles also are equipped with Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren (LATCH) for child safety seats.</p>
<p>The 2010 Chrysler Sebring and 2010 Dodge Avenger offer more than 30 safety and security features, including:</p>
<ul>
<li>Active head restraints</li>
<li>Advanced Multi-stage Air Bags</li>
<li>All-speed Traction Control</li>
<li>Anti-lock Brake System (ABS)</li>
<li>Auto-reverse Sun Roof</li>
<li>Auto-reverse Window</li>
<li>BeltAlert</li>
<li>Brake Assist</li>
<li>Brake/Park Interlock</li>
<li>Child Seat Anchor System (LATCH)</li>
<li>Child-protection Rear Door Locks</li>
<li>Crumple Zones</li>
<li>Digressive Load-limiting Retractors</li>
<li>Electronic Stability Control (ESC)</li>
<li>Energy-absorbing Steering Column</li>
<li>Enhanced Accident Response System (EARS)</li>
<li>Height-adjustable Front Seat Belts</li>
<li>HomeLink&#38;reg; Universal Transceiver</li>
<li>Inside Emergency Release</li>
<li>Interior Head-impact Protection</li>
<li>Knee Bolsters</li>
<li>Remote Keyless Entry</li>
<li>Remote Start</li>
<li>Safety Cage Body Structure</li>
<li>Seat-belt Pretensioners (both front seat belts)</li>
<li>Sentry Key&#38;reg; Engine Immobilizer</li>
<li>Side Guard Door Beams</li>
<li>Side-curtain Air Bags</li>
<li>Tire-pressure Monitoring (TPM)</li>
<li>Uconnect phone</li>
<li>Vehicle Theft Security Alarm</li>
</ul>
<p>
<strong>About Chrysler Group LLC</strong>
</p>
<p>Chrysler Group LLC, formed in 2009 from a global strategic alliance with Fiat Group, produces Chrysler, Jeep&#38;reg;, Dodge and Mopar&#38;reg; brand vehicles and products. With the resources, technology and worldwide distribution network required to compete effectively on a global scale, the alliance builds on Chrysler's culture of innovation - first established by Walter P. Chrysler in 1925 - and Fiat's complementary technology. Headquartered in Auburn Hills, Mich., Chrysler Group LLC's product lineup features some of the world's most recognizable vehicles, including the Chrysler Town &#38; Country, Jeep Wrangler and Dodge Ram. Fiat will contribute world-class technology, platforms and powertrains for small- and medium-sized cars, allowing Chrysler Group LLC to offer an expanded product line including environmentally friendly vehicles.</p>]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">2009_8_25_iihs_safety_award</guid><pubDate>August 25, 2009</pubDate><category>dodge_news dodge internal chrysler_news 2010 chrysler awards avenger sebring featured</category><source url="http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news">Chrysler Media Services LLC</source><dc:subject name="Dodge News" category="System Tag">dodge_news</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Dodge" category="System Tag">dodge</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Recent News From" category="System Tag">internal</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Chrysler News" category="System Tag">chrysler_news</dc:subject><dc:subject name="2010" category="System Tag">2010</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Chrysler" category="System Tag">chrysler</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Awards" category="Automotive">awards</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Avenger" category="Dodge Vehicles">avenger</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Sebring" category="Chrysler Vehicles">sebring</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Featured" category="System Tag">featured</dc:subject></item>
<item><title>Mopar&#174; HEMI&#174; Challenge Race Series to Commence at NHRA U.S. Nationals</title><link>http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news/articles/?guid=2009_8_6_mopar_challenge_race_series</link><description><![CDATA[
<p>Center Line&#44; Mich.&#44; Aug 6&#44; 2009  &#45;</p>
<p>Mopar&#174;&#44; Chrysler Group LLC&#39;s Parts division&#44; has announced that the world&#39;s fastest super stockers will once again face off during the 2009 season. The ground&#45;pounding 800 horsepower HEMI&#174;&#45;powered 1968 Dodge Darts and Plymouth Barracudas continue their 40&#45;year domination of NHRA&#39;s top stock class beginning this Labor Day Weekend in Indianapolis.</p>
<p>The three&#45;event 2009 Mopar HEMI&#174; Challenge Race Series schedule will blast off at the prestigious Mac Tools U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis&#44; Ind.&#44; Sept. 2&#8212;7.</p>
<p>The HEMI Challenge series will then head to the JEGS Northern SPORTSnationals in Columbus&#44; Ohio&#44; on Sept. 25&#8212;27. The third and final 2009 Challenge event will be on October 22&#8212;25 at the Dutch Classic at Maple Grove Raceway in Reading&#44; Pa.</p>
<p>The U.S. Nationals victor will take home a &#36;10&#44;000 winner&#39;s purse. The winners of the other two events will haul in &#36;5&#44;000 paydays. Each HEMI Challenge race is a stand&#45;alone event.</p>
<p>An impressive company of Super Stock&#47;A&#45;HEMI &#40;SS&#47;AH&#41; pilots are scheduled to make the trek to Indy. Expected drivers and teams include 2008 HEMI Challenge series champion Charlie Westcott Jr. and his father&#44; Charlie Westcott Sr.&#44; who was runner&#45;up in the &#39;08 standings. The Westcotts both compete in 1968 Plymouth Barracudas. Third&#45;place series finisher Jim Pancake will drive his Dodge Dart and fourth&#45;place series finisher John Raines will also compete. Jim Daniels&#44; winner of the final 2008 Mopar HEMI Challenge event at Maple Grove Raceway in Pennsylvania&#44; will race in his Dodge Dart.</p>
<p>Westcott Jr.&#44; plans to debut a newly&#45;built 1968 Plymouth Barracuda this year. His previous car&#44; the 1968 &#34;Warfish&#34; Barracuda&#44; which dominated the series in 2008&#44; is scheduled to be retired. Other drivers include Bucky Hess&#44; Larry Woo&#44; Joe Teuton Jr.&#44; Rick Houser&#44; Darrell Marvel&#44; and Fred Henson.</p>
<p>&#34;The Mopar HEMI Challenge illustrates the amazing dedication of the grassroots racers who are the core of the series&#44;&#34; said Jim Sassorossi&#44; Director&#45;Mopar Global Parts Sales and Marketing&#44; Chrysler Group LLC. &#34;The dedicated racers who compete in the Mopar HEMI Challenge buy parts from a Dodge&#44; Chrysler or Jeep&#174; dealership and pour money&#44; time and sweat into their Mopar HEMI&#45;powered race cars. They are great examples of the passion that exists in the drag racing community for the Mopar brand.&#34;</p>
<p>
<strong>More than 70 Years of Mopar</strong>
<br/>When Chrysler bought Dodge in 1928&#44; the need for a dedicated parts manufacturer&#44; supplier and distribution system to support the growing enterprise led to the formation of the Chrysler Motor Parts Corporation &#40;CMPC&#41; in 1929.</p>
<p>Mopar &#40;a simple contraction of the words MOtor and PARts&#41; was trademarked for a line of antifreeze products in 1937. It also was widely used as a moniker for the CMPC. The Mopar brand made its mark in the 1960&#39;s &#8212; the muscle car era. The Chrysler Corporation built race&#45;ready Dodge and Plymouth &#34;package cars&#34; equipped with special high&#45;performance parts. Mopar carried a line of &#34;special parts&#34; for super stock drag racers and developed its racing parts division called Mopar Performance Parts to enhance speed and handling for both road and racing use.</p>
<p>Today&#44; Chrysler Group LLC&#39;s Parts division is responsible for the distribution of nearly 350&#44;000 authentic Mopar replacement parts&#44; components and accessories for Chrysler&#44; Jeep and Dodge vehicles sold around the world. To assure quality&#44; reliability and durability&#44; all Mopar parts and accessories are designed in strict adherence to Chrysler engineering standards.</p>]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">2009_8_6_mopar_challenge_race_series</guid><pubDate>August 6, 2009</pubDate><category>dodge_news dodge internal hemi chrysler_llc</category><source url="http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news">Chrysler Media Services LLC</source><dc:subject name="Dodge News" category="System Tag">dodge_news</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Dodge" category="System Tag">dodge</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Recent News From" category="System Tag">internal</dc:subject><dc:subject name="HEMI" category="Automotive">hemi</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Chrysler LLC" category="Automotive">chrysler_llc</dc:subject></item>
<item><title> Chrysler Group LLC Announces New &#34;Double CA&#36;H For Your Old Car&#34; Incentive Program</title><link>http://www.chrysler.com/en/experience/news/articles/?guid=2009_7_22_double_cash_for_old_car</link><description><![CDATA[
<ul>
<li>Every consumer shopping for a new vehicle qualifies</li>
<li>Consumers can receive up to &#36;4&#44;500 for the purchase of an eligible&#44; new 2009 Model Year Chrysler&#44; Jeep&#174; or Dodge vehicle</li>
<li>Chrysler Group incentive is in addition to the U.S. Government &#34;CARS&#34; program. Consumers with an eligible trade&#45;in under the CARS program can receive up to &#36;9&#44;000 towards the purchase of an eligible new Chrysler&#44; Jeep or Dodge vehicle  </li>
</ul>
<p>Auburn Hills&#44; Mich.&#44; Jul 22&#44; 2009  &#45;  Chrysler Group LLC today announced new incentives&#44; &#34;Double CA&#36;H for Your Old Car&#44;&#34; that can save consumers up to &#36;9&#44;000 toward the purchase of a new Chrysler&#44; Jeep&#174; or Dodge vehicle.</p>
<p>&#34;Everyone shopping for a new car or truck qualifies for an incentive of up to &#36;4&#44;500 &#8212; even if they don&#39;t have a vehicle that qualifies under the U.S. Government&#39;s program&#44;&#34; said Steven Beahm&#44; Vice President &#8212; Sales Operations&#44; Chrysler Group LLC. &#34;This incentive is great in that it&#39;s easy to understand and available to everyone.&#34;</p>
<p>Beginning July 23&#44; 2009&#44; Chrysler Group LLC will offer up to &#36;4&#44;500 Consumer Cash or 0 percent financing for 72 months through GMAC Financial Services on most 2009 model vehicles. These incentives are valid through August 31&#44; 2009.</p>
<p>July 23&#44; 2009 also marks the start of the U.S. Government&#39;s Car Allowance Rebate Systems &#40;CARS&#41; program&#44; more commonly known as &#34;cash for clunkers.&#34; The CARS program offers a government credit of either &#36;3&#44;500 or &#36;4&#44;500 for trading in an inefficient vehicle that is not more than 25 years old for the purchase of a new vehicle. The amount of the credit is determined based on the fuel&#45;economy improvement between the turn&#45;in vehicle and the new vehicle purchased.</p>
<p>&#34;The administration&#39;s program is aimed at getting less fuel&#45;efficient vehicles off the road&#44; and for vehicles that meet the requirements&#44; offers a great incentive to do so&#44;&#34; Beahm said. &#34;But we didn&#39;t want consumers without qualifying vehicles to feel left out so we are offering up to &#36;4&#44;500 to everyone.&#34;</p>
<p>Chrysler Group offers consumers 35 Chrysler&#44; Jeep and Dodge vehicles from which to choose at almost 2&#44;400 Chrysler&#44; Jeep and Dodge dealerships located across the United States.</p>
<p>
<strong>About Chrysler Group LLC</strong>
</p>
<p>Chrysler Group LLC&#44; formed in 2009 from a global strategic alliance with Fiat Group&#44; produces Chrysler&#44; Jeep&#44; Dodge&#44; Mopar&#174; and Global Electric Motors &#40;GEM&#41; brand vehicles and products. With the resources&#44; technology and worldwide distribution network required to compete on a global scale&#44; the alliance builds on Chrysler&#39;s culture of innovation &#8212; first established by Walter P. Chrysler in 1925 &#8212; and Fiat&#39;s complementary technology &#8212; from a company whose heritage dates back to 1899.</p>
<p>Headquartered in Auburn Hills&#44; Mich.&#44; Chrysler Group LLC&#39;s product lineup features some of the world&#39;s most recognizable vehicles&#44; including the Chrysler 300&#44; Jeep Wrangler and Dodge Ram. Fiat will contribute world&#45;class technology&#44; platforms and powertrains for small&#45; and medium&#45;sized cars&#44; allowing Chrysler Group to offer an expanded product line&#44; including environmentally friendly vehicles.</p>]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">2009_7_22_double_cash_for_old_car</guid><pubDate>July 22, 2009</pubDate><category>chrysler_news chrysler internal all_vehicles featured chrysler_llc jeep_news dodge_news</category><source url="http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news">Chrysler Media Services LLC</source><dc:subject name="Chrysler News" category="System Tag">chrysler_news</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Chrysler" category="System Tag">chrysler</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Recent News From" category="System Tag">internal</dc:subject><dc:subject name="All Vehicles" category="System Tag">all_vehicles</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Featured" category="System Tag">featured</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Chrysler LLC" category="Automotive">chrysler_llc</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Jeep News" category="System Tag">jeep_news</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Dodge News" category="System Tag">dodge_news</dc:subject></item>
<item><title>Dodge Viper SRT10 Will Live On</title><link>http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news/articles/?guid=2009_10_7_viper_srt10_will_live_on</link><description><![CDATA[
<p>Auburn Hills&#44; Mich.&#44; Jul 10&#44; 2009  &#45;  Chrysler Group LLC announced today that production will continue for the legendary Dodge Viper SRT10.</p>
<p>Originally slated to cease production in December 2009&#44; the Chrysler Group Conner Avenue Assembly Plant &#45; the exclusive home of Dodge Viper production since 1995 &#45; will continue to build the V&#45;10 powered sports car. Chrysler Group is no longer pursuing a sale of  the Viper business assets.</p>
<p>&#34;The Dodge Viper has successfully captured the hearts and imagination of performance enthusiasts around the globe&#44;&#34; said Mike Accavitti&#44; President and Chief Executive Officer&#44; Dodge Brand. &#34;We&#39;re extremely proud that the ultimate American&#45;built sports car with its world&#45;class performance will live on as the iconic image leader for the Dodge brand.&#34;</p>
<p>Introduced as a concept car in 1989 at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit&#44; the Dodge Viper was designed and engineered to test public reaction to the concept of a back&#45;to&#45;basics&#44; high&#45;performance&#44; limited production sports car.</p>
<p>The reaction was so overwhelming that customer orders began to flow in even before the auto show was over. Chrysler Corporation immediately decided to determine the production feasibility on transforming the crowd&#45;pleasing Dodge Viper show car into a limited&#45;production sports car in no more than three years.</p>
<p>In May 1990&#44; after months of intensive study and testing&#44; Chrysler Corporation announced that the Dodge Viper&#44; powered by an aluminum V&#45;10 was a &#34;go.&#34;</p>
<p>Dodge Viper production began in May 1992 at the New Mack Assembly Plant and was moved to Conner Avenue in October 1995. Viper V&#45;10 engine production transferred from Mound Road Engine to Conner Avenue Assembly in May 2001. In 2008&#44; Dodge introduced the all&#45;new&#44; fourth generation Dodge Viper SRT10. With more horsepower&#44; more torque and more than 30 exterior and interior color combinations&#44; the latest Viper gives enthusiasts the performance they expect on the track and off&#44; with more factory customization options than before.</p>
<p>For 2009&#44; the Dodge Viper SRT10 offers outrageous power&#44; with an 8.4&#45;liter&#44; 600&#45;horsepower &#40;450 kW&#41; V&#45;10 engine contributing to blistering acceleration &#40;0&#45;60 mph in less than four seconds&#44; 0&#45;100&#45;0 mph in the low 12&#45;second range&#41;&#44; setting an American sports car benchmark.</p>
<p>To date&#44; more than 25&#44;000 Dodge Vipers have been built.</p>
<p>
<strong>About Chrysler Group LLC</strong>
<br/>Chrysler Group LLC&#44; formed in 2009 from a global strategic alliance with Fiat Group&#44; produces Chrysler&#44; Jeep&#174;&#44; Dodge&#44; Mopar&#174; and Global Electric Motors &#40;GEM&#41; brand vehicles and products. With the resources&#44; technology and worldwide distribution network required to compete on a global scale&#44; the alliance builds on Chrysler&#39;s culture of innovation &#8212; first established by Walter P. Chrysler in 1925 &#8212; and Fiat&#39;s complementary technology &#8212; from a company whose heritage dates back to 1899.</p>
<p>Headquartered in Auburn Hills&#44; Mich.&#44; Chrysler Group LLC&#39;s product lineup features some of the world&#39;s most recognizable vehicles&#44; including the Chrysler 300&#44; Jeep Wrangler and Dodge Ram. Fiat will contribute world&#45;class technology&#44; platforms and powertrains for small&#45; and medium&#45;sized cars&#44; allowing Chrysler Group to offer an expanded product line including environmentally friendly vehicles.</p>
<p>
<strong>About Dodge</strong>
<br/>With a work&#45;hard&#44; play&#45;hard attitude&#44; the Dodge brand continues to offer a full line of cars&#44; trucks&#44; SUVs&#44; commercial vehicles and a sales&#45;leading&#44; fifth&#45;generation minivan in 2009. Dodge will soon add to its award&#45;winning Ram lineup with the introduction of its all&#45;new 2010 Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500 Heavy Duty trucks.</p>
<p>Dodge introduced several new vehicles last year&#44; including the all&#45;new 2009 Dodge Journey&#44; the 2009 Dodge Challenger and the 2009 Dodge Ram. Dodge also celebrated the 25th anniversary of the minivan during the 2009 model year. With more than 65 minivan&#45;firsts introduced since 1983 and more than 12 million Dodge and Chrysler minivans sold&#44; Chrysler Group LLC has solidified its leadership in the segment. The 2009 Dodge Grand Caravan continues to set the mark in minivan value with more than 40 new or improved features from the previous generation&#44; including unsurpassed 17 city &#47; 25 highway mpg fuel economy. The 2009 Dodge Grand Caravan is also the first minivan in the segment to feature the all&#45;new Blind&#45;Spot Monitoring and Rear Cross Path advance safety systems.</p>
<p>Also in 2008&#44; the Dodge Journey entered key volume markets outside North America&#44; joining the Dodge Avenger&#44; Nitro and Caliber. Dodge Caliber was the highest sales volume vehicle for the company outside North America in 2008.</p>
<p>Follow Dodge and Chrysler Group LLC news and video on&#58;</p>
<p>Chrysler Connect blog&#58;  http&#58;&#47;&#47;blog.chryslergroupllc.com<br/>Twitter&#58; http&#58;&#47;&#47;www.twitter.com&#47;chryslercom and www.twitter.com&#47;chrysler<br/>YouTube&#58; http&#58;&#47;&#47;www.youtube.com&#47;pentastarvideo<br/>Streetfire&#58;  http&#58;&#47;&#47;members.streetfire.net&#47;profile&#47;ChryslerVideo.htm</p>]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">2009_10_7_viper_srt10_will_live_on</guid><pubDate>July 10, 2009</pubDate><category>dodge_news dodge internal</category><source url="http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news">Chrysler Media Services LLC</source><dc:subject name="Dodge News" category="System Tag">dodge_news</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Dodge" category="System Tag">dodge</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Recent News From" category="System Tag">internal</dc:subject></item>
<item><title>Chrysler Group LLC Announces Changes to Dodge Brand and Marketing Organizations</title><link>http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news/articles/?guid=2009_6_7_chrysler_llc_changes_to_dodge_brand_marketing</link><description><![CDATA[
<p>Auburn Hills&#44; Mich.&#44; Jul 6&#44; 2009  &#45;</p>
<p>Chrysler Group LLC today announced the following appointments within its Dodge Brand and Marketing organizations&#44; led by Michael Accavitti&#44; President and Chief Executive Officer &#45;&#45; Dodge Brand.</p>
<p>
<strong>Dodge Brand</strong>
</p>
<ul>
<li>Mario D&#39;Ovidio was appointed Head of Dodge Product Marketing &#8212; Small Car. In this position&#44; Mr. D&#39;Ovidio will be responsible for the Caliber and Avenger product positioning&#44; pricing&#44; marketing programs&#44; brand product requirements and profit planning.</li>
<li>Mark Mallie has been appointed Head of Dodge Product Marketing &#8212; Heritage Car. In this position&#44; Mr. Mallie will be responsible for the Charger and Challenger product positioning&#44; pricing&#44; marketing programs&#44; brand product requirements and profit planning.</li>
<li>Mark Heber was appointed Head of Dodge Product Marketing &#8212; Truck. In this position&#44; Mr. Heber will be responsible for the Ram product positioning&#44; pricing&#44; marketing programs&#44; brand product requirements and profit planning.</li>
<li>Joseph Benson has been appointed Head of Dodge Product Marketing &#8212; Commercial Vehicle. In this position&#44; Mr. Benson will be responsible for Commercial Vehicle product positioning&#44; pricing&#44; marketing programs&#44; brand product requirements and profit planning.</li>
<li>Fredric DePerez was appointed Head of Dodge Product Marketing &#45; MPV. In this position&#44; Mr. DePerez will be responsible for the Nitro&#44; Caravan and Journey product positioning&#44; pricing&#44; marketing programs&#44; brand product requirements and profit planning.</li>
<li>Mark Spencer was appointed Head of Dodge Brand Communications. In this position&#44; Mr. Spencer will be responsible for communicating the brand image&#44; brand positioning&#44; brand analysis&#44; brand accessories&#44; merchandising and owner clubs.</li>
<li>Jeffrey Hines was appointed Head of Dodge Brand Operations. In this position&#44; Mr. Hines will be responsible for forecasting&#44; marketing mix and product optimization and incentives analysis.</li>
</ul>
<p>
<strong>Marketing</strong>
</p>
<ul>
<li>Jamie Noll has been appointed Head of Marketing &#8212; Promotions. In this position&#44; Mr. Noll will be responsible for the Dealer Advertising Association &#40;DAA&#41;&#44; annual go&#45;to&#45;market plans&#44; sales event plans&#44; retail creative briefs&#44; creative production management&#44; field and DAA board management&#44; Business Center planning and coordination and DAA budget administration.</li>
<li>Susan Thomson was appointed Head of Marketing &#8212; Prospecting. In this position&#44; Ms. Thomson will be responsible for prospecting plans and tactics&#44; owner loyalty plans and tactics&#44; campaign measurement and reporting&#44; database management&#44; integration&#44; models and social media.</li>
<li>Chuck Sullivan has been appointed Head of Marketing &#8212; Delivery. In this position&#44; Mr. Sullivan will be responsible for online media&#44; brand websites&#44; retail programs&#44; dealer websites and leads&#44; applications&#44; owner website&#44; media consumption research&#44; annual upfront media plans&#44; buying and stewardship and campaign measurement.</li>
<li>Phillip Bockhorn was appointed Head of Marketing &#8212; Experiences. In this position&#44; Mr. Bockhorn will be responsible for event plans and tactics&#44; auto show displays and management&#44; show vehicle fleet management and transportation&#44; commercial trade shows&#44; consumer events and measurement analysis and reporting.</li>
<li>John Millar was appointed Head of Jeep&#174; Marketing Integration. In this position Mr. Millar will be responsible for working with the Jeep Brand CEO to synthesize brand objectives&#44; creative development&#44; lead generations and events.</li>
</ul>
<p>Today&#39;s announcements are immediately effective. Further organizational alignments will be announced at a later time.</p>
<p>
<strong>About Chrysler Group LLC</strong>
</p>
<p>Chrysler Group LLC&#44; formed in 2009 from a global strategic alliance with Fiat Group&#44; produces Chrysler&#44; Jeep&#174;&#44; Dodge&#44; Mopar&#174; and Global Electric Motors &#40;GEM&#41; brand vehicles and products. With the resources&#44; technology and worldwide distribution network required to compete on a global scale&#44; the alliance builds on Chrysler&#39;s culture of innovation &#8212; first established by Walter P. Chrysler in 1925 &#8212; and Fiat&#39;s complementary technology &#8212; from a company whose heritage dates back to 1899.</p>
<p>Headquartered in Auburn Hills&#44; Mich.&#44; Chrysler Group LLC&#39;s product lineup features some of the world&#39;s most recognizable vehicles&#44; including the Chrysler 300&#44; Jeep Wrangler and Dodge Ram. Fiat will contribute world&#45;class technology&#44; platforms and powertrains for small&#45; and medium&#45;sized cars&#44; allowing Chrysler Group to offer an expanded product line including environmentally friendly vehicles.</p>
<p>Follow Chrysler news and video on&#58;<br/>Chrysler Connect blog&#58; http&#58;&#47;&#47;blog.chryslerllc.com<br/>Twitter&#58; http&#58;&#47;&#47;www.twitter.com&#47;chryslercom and www.twitter.com&#47;chrysler<br/>YouTube&#58; http&#58;&#47;&#47;http&#58;&#47;&#47;www.youtube.com&#47;pentastarvideo<br/>Streetfire&#58; http&#58;&#47;&#47;members.streetfire.net&#47;profile&#47;ChryslerVideo.htm</p>]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">2009_6_7_chrysler_llc_changes_to_dodge_brand_marketing</guid><pubDate>July 6, 2009</pubDate><category>dodge_news dodge internal chrysler_llc</category><source url="http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news">Chrysler Media Services LLC</source><dc:subject name="Dodge News" category="System Tag">dodge_news</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Dodge" category="System Tag">dodge</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Recent News From" category="System Tag">internal</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Chrysler LLC" category="Automotive">chrysler_llc</dc:subject></item>
<item><title>Strategic Vision's 2009 Total Quality Index&#8482; Ranks Dodge Ram 1500 Top of its Class with Highest Score of any Truck in the 15-year History of the Study</title><link>http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news/articles/?guid=2009_29_6_ram_top_of_its_class</link><description><![CDATA[
<ul>
<li>Innovations designed into the all&#45;new 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 score high with owners</li>
<li>Chrysler Group improves Total Quality score by 15 points</li>
</ul>
<p>Auburn Hills&#44; Mich.&#44; Jun 29&#44; 2009  &#45;</p>
<p>The all&#45;new 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 ranks at the top of the full&#45;size truck segment in Strategic Vision Inc.&#39;s &#40;SVI&#41; 2009 Total Quality Index&#8482; &#40;TQI&#41;. According to the survey released today&#44; the Dodge Ram leads the way with the highest Total Quality score of any truck in the 15&#45;year history of the study. Customers specifically noted that the Ram has the best added storage capability along with the best truck interior ever rated by customers.</p>
<p>&#34;Our all&#45;new 2009 Dodge Ram is rated by owners as the best truck ever built&#44;&#34; said Doug Betts&#44; Senior Vice President &#8212; Quality&#44; Chrysler Group LLC. &#34;It is a game&#45;changing&#44; class&#45;leading truck that is second to none. This award confirms that we are making significant changes and improvements&#44; which enhance the overall ownership experience and are being recognized by our customers.&#34;</p>
<p>The all&#45;new 2009 Dodge Ram features the industry&#39;s first&#45;and&#45;only RamBox&#8482; cargo management system that includes versatile&#44; weatherproof&#44; lockable&#44; illuminated&#44; drainable storage bins; pickup bed dividers; a two&#45;foot bed extender and a cargo rail system with sliding adjustable cleats.</p>
<p>The 2009 Ram also includes the first&#45;in&#45;segment coil&#45;spring five&#45;link rear suspension fitted to a solid rear axle that provides ride and handling not found on any other pickup truck. A new 5.7&#45;liter HEMI&#174; V&#45;8 engine with fuel&#45;saving MDS technology provides more horsepower &#40;390 hp&#41; and torque &#40;407 lb.&#45;ft.&#41; while its best&#45;in&#45;class aerodynamics &#40;.387 Cd&#41; improve fuel economy and performance.</p>
<p>&#34;For truck buyers&#44; the Dodge Ram has reclaimed its perceived leadership in innovation&#44; a corporate hallmark&#44;&#34; said Alexander Edwards&#44; President of SVI. &#34;We have tracked innovation as a critical dimension in success since 1979 and have shown that it has been the single most powerful factor in success across categories&#44; especially among automobiles.&#34;</p>
<p>The Total Quality Index&#8482; asks buyers to rate all aspects of the ownership experience from buying and owning to performance and driving &#8212; much more than simply counting issues. Results from studies that measure the number of issues or the overall satisfaction of a vehicle do not measure the customers&#39; commitment to&#44; advocacy for or loyalty to their vehicles accurately&#44; according to Strategic Vision.</p>
<p>In addition&#44; Chrysler Group LLC improved 15 points over 2008.</p>
<p>The all&#45;new 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 Regular&#44; Quad and Crew Cab models recently earned Five Star ratings for driver&#45; and front&#45;passenger protection in a frontal crash&#44; the highest ratings in the U.S. government&#39;s safety crash test program. The U.S. Manufacturer&#39;s Suggested Retail Price &#40;MSRP&#41; for the 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 is &#36;22&#44;170 &#40;including &#36;900 destination&#41;.</p>
<p>In addition to winning Strategic Vision&#39;s TQI&#44; the all&#45;new 2009 Dodge Ram has earned 17 key awards since its introduction and was recently chosen by Car and Driver as the best full&#45;size pickup in a head&#45;to&#45;head comparison test in Texas&#44; beating the 2009 Ford F&#45;150. Other key awards include&#58;</p>
<ul>
<li>ICOTY &#8212; 2009 International Truck of the Year</li>
<li>Texas Auto Writer&#39;s Association &#40;TAWA&#41; &#8212; 2009 Full&#45;Size Pickup Truck of Texas</li>
<li>MotorWeek &#8212; Best Pickup Truck</li>
<li>Maxim &#8212; Achievement in Party&#45;Enabling Technology &#40;RamBox&#41;</li>
<li>Edmunds&#39; Inside Line&#8212; A 2009 Editor&#39;s Most Wanted</li>
<li>Edmunds&#39; Inside Line &#8212; Best Full&#45;size Pickup Truck</li>
<li>Consumer Guide &#45; Large Pickup &#8212; Best Buy for 2009</li>
<li>Cars.com &#8212; Work Truck of the Year</li>
<li>Truckin&#39; magazine &#8212; Truck of the Year</li>
<li>Autobytel.com &#8212; 2009 MyRide&#92;Autobytel Editors&#39; Choice Awards &#45; Truck of the Year</li>
<li>Ward&#39;s AutoWorld &#8212; Interior of the Year</li>
<li>Rocky Mountain Automotive Press Association &#8212; Truck of the Year</li>
<li>New England Motor Press Association &#40;NEMPA&#41; &#8212; Best&#45;in&#45;Class Pickup Award</li>
<li>Ward&#39;s AutoWorld &#8212; Ward&#39;s 10 Best Engines of 2009 &#40;2009 Dodge Ram 5.7&#45;liter HEMI&#174; engine&#41;</li>
<li>Automobile Journalists Association of Canada &#8212; Best New Pickup</li>
<li>AutoPacific&#39;s Vehicle Satisfaction Award</li>
<li>Sobre Ruedas &#8212; Sobre Ruedas Best Pickup Truck for &#39;08</li>
</ul>
<p>The Total Quality Index&#8482; was calculated from 20&#44;101 buyers who bought 2008 and 2009 models from September to December 2008. Strategic Vision has presented Total Quality awards annually since 1995. Since its foundation in 1972 and incorporation in 1989&#44; Strategic Vision has studied consumer and constituent decision&#45;making for a wide variety of clients&#44; including most auto manufacturers&#44; Coca&#45;Cola&#44; American Airlines&#44; Procter and Gamble&#44; the White House&#44; 10 Downing Street&#44; and many advertising agencies. Its unique expertise is identifying consumers&#39; motivational hierarchies&#44; including the values&#44; emotions&#44; and images that shape perceptions and behavior. The firm&#39;s in&#45;depth Discovery Interviews and ValueCentered Surveys provide comprehensive&#44; integrated and actionable outcomes&#44; linking behavior to attributes to consequences to values and emotions to images.</p>
<p>
<strong>About the Dodge Brand</strong>
<br/>With a work&#45;hard&#44; play&#45;hard attitude&#44; the Dodge brand continues to offer a full line of cars&#44; trucks&#44; SUVs&#44; commercial vehicles and a sales&#45;leading&#44; fifth&#45;generation minivan in 2009. Dodge will soon add to its award&#45;winning Ram lineup with the introduction of its all&#45;new 2010 Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500 Heavy Duty trucks.</p>
<p>Dodge introduced several new vehicles last year&#44; including the all&#45;new 2009 Dodge Journey&#44; the 2009 Dodge Challenger and the 2009 Dodge Ram. Dodge also celebrated the 25th anniversary of the minivan during the 2009 model year. With more than 65 minivan&#45;firsts introduced since 1983 and more than 12 million Dodge and Chrysler minivans sold&#44; Chrysler LLC has solidified its leadership in the segment. The 2009 Dodge Grand Caravan continues to set the mark in minivan value with more than 40 new or improved features from the previous generation&#44; including unsurpassed 17 city &#92; 25 highway mpg fuel economy. The 2009 Dodge Grand Caravan is also the first minivan in the segment to feature the all&#45;new Blind&#45;Spot Monitoring and Rear Cross Path advance safety systems.</p>
<p>Also in 2008&#44; the Dodge Journey entered key volume markets outside North America&#44; joining the Dodge Avenger&#44; Nitro and Caliber. Dodge Caliber was the highest sales volume vehicle for the company outside North America in 2008.</p>]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">2009_29_6_ram_top_of_its_class</guid><pubDate>June 29, 2009</pubDate><category>dodge_news dodge internal chrysler_llc ram</category><source url="http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news">Chrysler Media Services LLC</source><dc:subject name="Dodge News" category="System Tag">dodge_news</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Dodge" category="System Tag">dodge</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Recent News From" category="System Tag">internal</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Chrysler LLC" category="Automotive">chrysler_llc</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Ram" category="Dodge Vehicles">ram</dc:subject></item>
<item><title>Statement regarding J.D. Power and Associates Initial Quality Study (IQS) Attributable to Doug Betts, Senior Vice President &#8212; Quality, Chrysler Group LLC</title><link>http://www.chrysler.com/en/experience/news/articles/?guid=2009_6_22_JDP_initial_quality</link><description><![CDATA[
<p>Today&#44; J.D. Power and Associates announced the results of their 2009 Initial Quality Study &#40;IQS&#41;&#44; which measures new&#45;vehicle quality at 90&#45;days of ownership. We were pleased to learn that there are several bright spots for Chrysler Group LLC within this study&#44; which demonstrate that the improvements we have been implementing over the past year are starting to show for the company as a whole and within each of the brands.</p>
<p>Chrysler Group had several models that perform in the top three in segment in initial quality. These include the Chrysler PT Cruiser&#44; which is &#34;Highest Ranked Compact Multi&#45;Activity Vehicle in Initial Quality in a Tie&#34;; Dodge Challenger&#44; which ranks second in the Midsize Sporty segment; and the Dodge Grand Caravan&#44; which is third in the Midsize Van&#47;Minivan segment. Several other Chrysler Group models also demonstrated initial quality improvement.</p>
<p>The Jeep brand improved by 30 points and moved up three rank positions&#44; currently ranking 33 among industry nameplates. This jump is attributable primarily to a 47 point improvement for the Jeep Wrangler.</p>
<p>Among the product highlights are&#58;</p>
<ul>
<li>Chrysler PT Cruiser&#44; which tied for first place in the Compact Multi Activity Vehicle segment.</li>
<li>Chrysler Sebring &#40;sedan and convertible&#41;&#44; which finished fourth in the very competitive Midsize Car segment.</li>
<li>Dodge Grand Caravan&#44; which improved by 60 points and now ranks third in the midsize van category.</li>
</ul>
<p>What the J.D. Power IQS shows us is that we have some forward momentum. We have figured out how to improve vehicles in production and have taken aggressive actions to continue that progress.</p>
<p>During the course of 2008 and early 2009&#44; Chrysler Group has made tremendous progress on quality&#44; which we can see in our internal measures. The fact is that over last year&#44; Chrysler has reduced its warranty claims by 30 percent. Our internal metrics confirm that we are currently operating with reliability that is better than it has ever been in company history. While the improvement is encouraging&#44; we have by no means arrived at a resting place. With the implementation of Customer Satisfaction Teams &#40;CSTs&#41;&#44; Customer Promoter Score &#40;CPS&#41; and other initiatives&#44; we are confident that we will continue to see improvements in our vehicle quality&#44; which will exceed the pace of improvement in the industry as we did in the 2009 IQS.</p>]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">2009_6_22_JDP_initial_quality</guid><pubDate>June 22, 2009</pubDate><category>chrysler_news chrysler internal dodge_news jeep_news dodge jeep featured</category><source url="http://www.dodge.com/en/experience/news">Chrysler Media Services LLC</source><dc:subject name="Chrysler News" category="System Tag">chrysler_news</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Chrysler" category="System Tag">chrysler</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Recent News From" category="System Tag">internal</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Dodge News" category="System Tag">dodge_news</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Jeep News" category="System Tag">jeep_news</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Dodge" category="System Tag">dodge</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Jeep" category="System Tag">jeep</dc:subject><dc:subject name="Featured" category="System Tag">featured</dc:subject></item>
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